Need a bike? London launches new plan to rent bikes in the capital
Boris Johnson Mayor of London, left, with the Chairman of Britain's Barclays Bank Marcus Agius as they poses for the media as a new cycle hire scheme starts in London, Friday, July 30, 2010. The cycle hire scheme aims to enable travelers to use a network of cycle stations throughout central London to commute or just tour the area, as the cycle hire system goes live Friday morning. In the background is the London Eye. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
LONDON - London is launching a new bicycle rental program in hopes of easing congestion in a European capital once known for its gridlock.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, an avid bicycling enthusiast, put the first bikes on the road Friday — 4,700 out of a planned 6,000. Under the program, cyclists will be able to borrow bikes from 400 docking stations around the city.
At the start, only those who sign up for membership in advance are eligible to take part. Membership costs 45 pounds ($70) a year.
Tourists or other casual users will not be eligible for the program for at least another month.
London joins dozens of other cities with bike rental programs, including Milan, Boston Barcelona, Minneapolis, Paris and Zurich, to name but a few.
