Boris Bikes- talk to me people

[david1701]

Right I have a gig in London and I'll have a shoulder bag of kit and a mile to walk (unless I come in earlier to go round bike shops hunting for long bike frames). So to get a bike I pick it up at the station (assuming I need to sign up first?) then ride to my destination, lock it up and work then ride back to paddington? Deffo starting and ending at paddington (gets the express from Exeter rather than just slow trains).

Or if I look round shops all day I collect one and take it with me all day dropping it off before I head home.

Oh and is it a terrible idea to cycle in London traffic if I'm a country bumpkin

 

[crazy580]

You are not meant to lock the bike up, you need put it in a docking station near were you need to go.

 

[Glow worm]

Oh and is it a terrible idea to cycle in London traffic if I'm a country bumpkin

From one country bumpkin to another - anything is better than the underground. I would rather slit my eyeballs with rusty nails than go anywhere near that complete shambles. You'll be fine by bike - go for it. I don't know about Boris Bikes, as I take a little fold up bike if I have to go there, locals will know more, but last time I was down there, it looked like you had to register to join the scheme or something.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

twill cost you a bomb unless you dock it at a docking station.

 

[david1701]

oh I see, so for the paddington to job trip I might as well just walk as there won't be one at hyde park, will go see if I can find a map. Whats the score with registering for a non londoner?

 

[david1701]

oh wow there are billions of the docks, one just across from where I need to be, that works nicely. Now whether I go exploring for the day depends on what train I get in

 

[jonny jeez]

oh I see, so for the paddington to job trip I might as well just walk as there won't be one at hyde park, will go see if I can find a map. Whats the score with registering for a non londoner?

There are a number of Boris Bike stations scattered around the interior of Hyde park....But...I was at the gig on Wednesday night (Kings of Leon) and all the stands were totally empty when I left (so the return trip will be on foot) and they seemed full before the gig (so you'll have trouble finding a free bay to park your bike when you get there).

personally the tube is fun on gig nights as the crowd has a good vibe, Its times like this when they are bearable (hot though!)

 

[Turtle Dude]

Not a terrible idea to cycle in London (it is where I live and do so). Just be prepared to ride like everyone else - forceful. And also be prepared for how heavy the bikes are ! Personally, I don't like them and would rather ride my own - but I think the scheme is a good idea.

As other's have said, don't keep hold of the bike - just drop it off at the nearest dock (there a lot of them) and then pick another up when you need it.

 

[Red Light]

No need to register - just bring a credit card with you and you can rent for the day as a casual user. As others have said, don't keep it with you; return it to a dock and get another one when you need it. If your trips are below 30 mins each it'll just cost you £1 for the day. Don't worry about the traffic - its used to Boris Bikers being less experienced and they seem to get a lot more leeway. Last point is there are some good phone apps which will tell you where the docking stations are and how many bikes and spaces they have to save you wandering the streets finding out. I use Cycle Deluxe on the iPhone but there are others around.

Enjoy, treat it like a Dutch bike - one for upright pootling not competitive speed merchanting and enjoy your day in London.

 

[jefmcg]

Just a mile? I'd walk it. By the time you have found a stand, used your credit card, got the pin number checked out a bike etc etc (repeat at each hire - reinsert credit card, print new receipt), lurched along on the cycle, found another docking station with spaces and parked and walked to your destination: it will probably take the 20 minutes that walking would take. That's if you can find a bike when leaving the station (no problem in the afternoon) and a dock at your destination, and the boris bikes like your credit card - mine didn't work the one time I tried to use it.

I've got a fob so I don't normally go the credit card route, but I've walked more than a mile looking for a bike on more than one occasion.

 

[threefingerjoe]

I'm interested in these replies, because I'm coming to visit from the States and plan on using Boris bikes for at least SOME of my transport.

 

[jefmcg]

Threefingerjoe,

Boris bikes are great for tourists. I'd recommend getting a key fob, but unfortunately I don't think you can if you live overseas. Using a credit card adds a minute or 2 to each stop, but that's fine if you are not in a hurry. If you return them within 1/2 hour, it's a very cheap way of getting about.

What let them down is at commuting time. The ranks at the stations quickly empty in the mornings while the ones in the business areas fill. There are vans constantly moving the bikes back to the stations but trying to get a bike from "the city" after 7 at night is impossible.

Check out http://www.tfl.gov.u...ling/15150.aspx for general information about the bikes and http://www.borisbikes.co.uk/ for super nerdy insights.

 

[Red Light]

Threefingerjoe,

Boris bikes are great for tourists. I'd recommend getting a key fob, but unfortunately I don't think you can if you live overseas. Using a credit card adds a minute or 2 to each stop, but that's fine if you are not in a hurry. If you return them within 1/2 hour, it's a very cheap way of getting about.

What let them down is at commuting time. The ranks at the stations quickly empty in the mornings while the ones in the business areas fill. There are vans constantly moving the bikes back to the stations but trying to get a bike from "the city" after 7 at night is impossible.

Check out http://www.tfl.gov.u...ling/15150.aspx for general information about the bikes and http://www.borisbikes.co.uk/ for super nerdy insights.

http://bikes.oobrien.com/ is also very good for seeing bike and docking space availability and you can click on a location to see the usage over the past 24hrs which gives an idea of whether there are likely to be bikes there when you want one. (You can also look at other cities with bikes schemes on the same map and the animation option for seeing flow patterns is interesting) Nothing beat though having something like the Cycle Deluxe app on you phone so you can check in real time where has bikes near you and where the nearest return docking space is.

 

[david1701]

that seems sensible, I work in London every now and again and it seems much less hassle than the underground if I have less kit than a peli case (guess I can't put 15kg in the front basket )

much appreciated local knowledge

 

[david1701]

is it a dumb idea to ride out to Brixton to bike hunt?