Evening Standard

[mjr]

For me I guess it's 3 reasons.
1) I really like walking through London. For me it's absolutely the best way to get about town.

Too slow and boring for me

2) I don't have a clue how to work the things. Presumably you need an account or an app or something?

The unassisted bikes have not needed an account for a long time. Now you basically tap a payment card on the dock's black monolith, tell it how many bikes you want, then type the code it spits out into that number of docking points to release bikes (plus lots of touchscreen tapping). I suspect the payment card has to have enough available to cover the damage deposit, so prepaid debit card users might need to beware that.

It's much easier than the app-based hire systems, but all those docks can't be cheap.

I think the e-bikes are a bit different (and more expensive) but I forget how. There might be an app involved then.

3) If it's too far to walk I'll get a bus. Or if longer than that a tube (or the Elizabeth line which ackchually isn't a tube) - and as I'm ancient, tubes and buses are free (after morning rush hour)

I have nothing against them, but they've never grabbed me by the collar and said "use me".

I'm less ancient, mostly walk with a stick and often travel at least partly in rush hours, so it usually works out cheaper than buses, definitely cheaper than tubes, and I'm not packed in with a load of sweaty commuters.

Just have to watch out a bit more for the minicabs, tour coaches and delivery drivers... but I had to do that when I walked more.

If I want to ride a bike in London I'll take my own.

Only folding bikes are allowed at peak times and they're a bit of a nuisance to carry in everywhere (and have far too many Quick Robbery parts for street parking in London). Hire bikes avoid both problems.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Too slow and boring for me

The unassisted bikes have not needed an account for a long time. Now you basically tap a payment card on the dock's black monolith, tell it how many bikes you want, then type the code it spits out into that number of docking points to release bikes (plus lots of touchscreen tapping). I suspect the payment card has to have enough available to cover the damage deposit, so prepaid debit card users might need to beware that.

It's much easier than the app-based hire systems, but all those docks can't be cheap.

I think the e-bikes are a bit different (and more expensive) but I forget how. There might be an app involved then.


I'm less ancient, mostly walk with a stick and often travel at least partly in rush hours, so it usually works out cheaper than buses, definitely cheaper than tubes, and I'm not packed in with a load of sweaty commuters.

Just have to watch out a bit more for the minicabs, tour coaches and delivery drivers... but I had to do that when I walked more.

Thanks for the info on how to use them.

I'm still not sold and I'll stick to walking I think.

 

[Drago]

Only folding bikes are allowed at peak times and they're a bit of a nuisance to carry in everywhere (and have far too many Quick Robbery parts for street parking in London). Hire bikes avoid both problems.

Its a good thing that a), I have a folding bike, b) I'm used to taking it on the train, and c) used to train emergency services workers how to use a bicycle as a very nasty (as in breaking peoples tibia nasty if it came to it) defensive weapon.

Folding bike in the smoke has worked ok for me up until now.

 

[mjr]

Thanks for the info on how to use them.

I'm still not sold and I'll stick to walking I think.

Cycling is clearly better than walking. I think you may be on the wrong forum. 😉

 

[Drago]

I do enjoy a good stroll though. Good for the mind.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I do enjoy a good stroll though. Good for the mind.

I go to London so seldom that walking is great because I can gaze around more
and it is easier to stop and work out where on Earth I am (hopefully London in this case!)

There are a lot of places I have just only ever seen on TV
like Paddington Station that I went to for a reunion dinner last year - I didn;t even know where it was and got there early so I could wander round and look at stuff

I always find you see a lot of good stuff in cities by looking up!

 

[lazybloke]

If I want to ride a bike in London I'll take my own.

Not permitted on morning commuter trains (unless i get a folder). Hence a hire bike if i want my fix.

The exception was when i worked for the Met during lockdown in Spring 2020 and had a carriage to myself. Enjoyed riding around London then, and sometimes back down to Surrey afterwards.


There's a Payment kiosk at all Boris Bike hire points, so no need for an app, but the kiosk needs a physical card rather than Google/Apple pay. Hopeless!

 

[Drago]

Not permitted on morning commuter trains (unless i get a folder).

Solution in parentheses!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Not permitted on morning commuter trains (unless i get a folder). Hence a hire bike if i want my fix.

The exception was when i worked for the Met during lockdown in Spring 2020 and had a carriage to myself. Enjoyed riding around London then, and sometimes back down to Surrey afterwards.


There's a Payment kiosk at all Boris Bike hire points, so no need for an app, but the kiosk needs a physical card rather than Google/Apple pay. Hopeless!

yes - cycling in lockdown was amazing!

got rather lost at one point due to silly cycle path design and rode a few miles on a deserted dual carriageway with no cycle path
checked behind and did a short stretch in the middle lane - just because!