Barclays Bikes: Boris is running with a puncture!

Throughout the last year one in five bike hire docking stations were empty for at least three hours each day, according to new figures released by the Mayor of London following probing questions from Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group.

Between 1st July 2012 to the 30th June 2013 the level of empty bike hire docking stations included:

• 107 docking stations empty for 3 hours or more each day
• 76 docking stations empty for 4 hours or more each day
• 54 docking stations empty for 5 hours or more each day
• 29 docking stations empty for 6 hours or more each day
• 9 docking stations empty for 7 hours or more each day

 The worst performing docking station was Portugal Street in Holborn, which over the last year was empty for nearly 9 hours each day.

Lib Dems improving Chiswick's cycle provision

It is as clear as the day that the poor distribution of bikes across the docking stations also includes some being completely full, creating problems for bike hire users attempting to return a hired bike.  Over the last year 41 docking stations were completely full for at least two hours each day.

Caroline Pidgeon has been extremely vocal on this important issue. The more people who use bikes in London the less of a need there is for car usage. They should expand the scheme to more sections of London. Most of West London doesn't get to hire these bikes.

The poor distribution of bikes across the docking stations is the number one complaint made by users of the scheme.  The complete absence of any bikes at so many docking stations, for such long periods of time every day, is also a huge deterrent to encouraging people to start using the scheme.  It is ultimately hard to hire a bike when none exist!

The Mayor of London is running with a puncture!