720 docking stations and 10,000 Barclay’s bikes occupy London’s streets. Sponsorship will cease altogether next year and this will leave Boris Johnson wondering what he‘ll do with a legion of Barclays-branded bikes and docking stations. You may even spot the odd yellow Tour de France bike out there these days. With businesses queuing up with their sponsorship proposals, here’s why you may want to give them a go:
Cycle Superhighways
Boris painted the roads blue and called them Superhighways. They run from outer London into Central London from Wandsworth to Westminster, Merton to The City and Stratford to Aldgate. They’re extremely safe and could be the quickest route to work for city commuters.
Scenic routes
There are some fantastic routes that you can find and follow on the TfL website. Explore secret gardens amongst the bustle of the capital - start your journey at Notting Hill through to Ladbroke Grove and glide through the Kyoto Japanese Garden in Holland Park. This will take you to Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park, and end your ride in Chelsea where you can grab some lunch.
Expansion
Recent expansion to the south and to the west has encompassed wider areas to Putney and Fulham, Hammersmith and Clapham Junction. Roughly half of the new docking points are south of the river, which means people who live, work or study in South London now have the long awaited access.
Quiet & car-free
For those of you who suffer from any of the popular pedal put-offs, order a cycle guide free from TfL and you’ll find a variety of routes designed to be car-free, leisurely and safe. They include paths running through Regents Canal, Hampstead Heath and from London Docklands to Lee Valley Park.
Boris mountain
Or maybe that’s not for you. How about picking up a Boris bike in London and riding it up Mont Ventoux in the south of France and returning within 24 hours?
