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Cycle Hire scheme

Montague Street
Artist's impression of
Cycle Hire scheme
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Cycle Hire, coming in summer 2010, will be a public bicycle sharing scheme for short journeys in and around central London. You'll be able to pick up a bicycle, use it as you like, then drop it off, ready for the next person.

When you can hire

The bicycles will be available 24 hours a day, all year round. It will be self-service so just turn up and go whenever you get the urge. No need to book.

Who can hire

If you are 14 and over and can use a bicycle without help, Cycle Hire's for you. We'll be providing information in other languages so it's great for tourists too.

Picking up and dropping off your cycle

There will be 400 special docking stations to choose from. Pick up and drop off at any station you fancy.

Costs

To hire a bicycle you will need to pay:

The first 30 minutes of each journey are free.

Access fee

Usage charges

Up to 30 minutes Free
Then
Up to 1 hour £1
Up to 1 hour and 30 minutes £4
Up to 2 hours £6
Up to 2 hours and 30 minutes £10
Up to 3 hours £15
Up to 6 hours £35
Up to 24 hours (maximum usage fee) £50
Other charges
Late return charge £150
Damage charge Up to £300
Non-return charge £300

If you'd like to cycle for longer than a couple of hours it might be cheaper for you to use a company that specialises in hiring bicycles.

Key fee

Become a member of the scheme and you will receive a chip-enabled membership key which provides easier and faster access to the bicycles.

You'll pay a one-off charge of:

Cycle hire poll

Where did you hear about the Cycle Hire Scheme?

 

Cycling Journey Planner

 

One of the joys of my ride home is the way you reconnect with the seasons.

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