Trying Out London’s Cycle Hire Scheme
Yesterday was another busy day in London. There were plenty of places I had to be. The tube is great for getting around, particularly with a travelcard, but it was a sunny day and I wanted to potter about at ground level. So, with my access key in hand, I tried out the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme for the first time.
I didn’t let the fact I didn’t really know where I was going deter me. I inserted my key into the dock, waited for a green light and hauled (with some initial difficulty) my bike out. After testing the brakes (extremely tight), the bell (loud) and setting my seat level to ‘6’, I set off. And immediately made a wrong turning. But that didn’t matter. It was fun! The bike was sturdy, easy to steer and with 3 gears, easy on the legs.
So long as you keep your wits about you, London’s streets aren’t as deadly as some make out. I found all the bus and taxi drivers I encountered to be quite courteous and patient. Pedestrians are probably the biggest worry. On several occasions, I had to brake for jay-walkers (not illegal in the UK, but in cases like this, a problem).
After 13 minutes and 24 seconds, my first journey was complete. And because I’d docked the bike within 30 minutes, it was free. I just paid the £1 access fee. For those making the same journey day after day, the scheme is a godsend. Considering the annual access fee is a meer £45, the journey-on-journey saving is hefty enough to dust off the high-vis tabard and get biking.
