Work begins on Barclays Cycle Hire scheme extension

Date: 4/4/2013

Work is now underway to extend London's Barclays Cycle Hire scheme to South-Western areas of the capital, which will include a docking station near the junction of Finlay Street and Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith.

The expansion project is due to be completed in time for the public to access the wider service in December 2013, with (TfL) Transport for London also delivering the initiative to areas of Wandsworth, Lambeth and Kensington and Chelsea.

More popularly known as 'Boris Bikes', TfL statistics show that more than 20 million hires have been made since the scheme was first introduced, and the Mayor highlighted the benefits the extension is expected to bring.

"The Barclays Cycle Hire scheme is going to be fantastic for South-West London," Boris Johnson said.

"It will be a real benefit to local people, it helps the economy and is key to my aim of making cycling an integral part of the capital's transport network."

The service currently stretches from Shepherd's Bush in West London to the outskirts of the Olympic Park in the East, passing through the centre of the city.

TfL's Central Highways contractor is set to carry out the extension of the scheme, with more than 100 potential locations across the capital having already been approved for new docking stations.

And Ashok Vaswani, CEO of Barclays Retail and Business Banking, praised the impact that the expansion project will have on the cycling network in London.

"We are delighted to have reached an important landmark for Barclays Cycle Hire as it makes such a positive difference to everyday life in London, its people and the economy," he said.

"Cycling continues to transform the capital so we look forward to more Londoners and visitors becoming involved with the scheme as it extends to South-West London."

Once the new area is completed, there will be more than 2,000 bicycles available throughout the city, with businesses and leisure firms expected to benefit from the extension.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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