Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.London will catch up with cities including Shanghai, Paris and Washington in July when it introduces its first easy-access bicycle hire scheme, the mayor announced Wednesday.
Residents and tourists frustrated by traffic and overcrowded public transport will be able to pick up a bike from about 400 locations across central London, for fees ranging from a pound a day to 45 pounds a year.
Officials said they expect the scheme, which will operate within London's Zone One travel area from July 30, to generate up 40,000 extra cycle journeys every day.
The London Cycle Hire scheme, which will comprise about 6,000 bikes, is similar to programmes already in place across Europe, including in Paris, Barcelona and Vienna, as well as in Shanghai, Montreal and Washington, DC.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, himself a keen cyclist, said he expected the scheme to convert "legions of people" to travelling by bike.
"In just four months London will glitter with the twinkling dynamo lights of thousands of shiny cycle hire bikes, allowing Londoners and visitors to zip around the streets unfettered from timetables, queues and crowds," he said.
"What we are creating is not just a cycle hire scheme, but a new form of public transport of the greenest and healthiest of kinds.
"It will become the cornerstone of the cycling revolution in the capital and will, I'm sure, convert legions of people to the pleasures of pedal power."
Transport for London, the city's transport authority, is still seeking a commercial sponsor for the scheme, which is costing about 140 million pounds (210 million dollars, 160 million euros) to install and operate over six years.
Customers will need to pay one pound (1.5 dollars, 1.1 euros) for 24 hours' access, five pounds for a week or 45 pounds for a year, and from then on they will be charged according to how long they cycle.
Cyclists can drop off and pick up bikes an unlimited number of times throughout their access period, but the intention is to use the bikes for short journeys rather than keeping them all day.
As such, while the first half hour is free, up to an hour costs one pound, up to 90 minutes costs four pounds and up to two hours costs six pounds, rising incrementally to a maximum hire period of 24 hours.
ar/mt/ec
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments