Cycle Hire Scheme Coming to Putney


'Boris Bikes' heading south of the river by 2014

The Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme is set to expand into Putney giving local people the opportunity to try out a 'Boris Bike' around SW15.

Transport for London has today (Thursday) revealed the timetable for the roll-out which would see around sixty docking stations installed across the north of Wandsworth by spring 2014.

The council has been long been campaigning for the scheme to be extended to the south west as part of its Wandsworth Travel Choices campaign. The ultimate aim is to have complete borough-wide coverage.

This first expansion into Wandsworth would include everywhere east of Putney High Street and north of the South Circular.

Later this month councillors will consider proposals to make a £2mn contribution towards the costs of the expansion which, if approved, would be part funded from a levy on local developers. The vast majority of the expansion cost would be met by scheme sponsor Barclays Bank.

The next step will be a series of public information sessions (timetable below) setting out the potential locations of the new docking points and asking for feedback. Earlier this year local residents were asked to help identify potential sites and many of these suggestions have been added to the shortlist.

Council Leader Ravi Govindia said: “It’s fantastic to see this exciting project moving forward. We’ve fought long and hard to secure this expansion and we will continue to press for a borough-wide roll out in the months ahead. The jobs not finished until every household in Wandsworth is covered by this scheme.

“Cycle hire will help more people to take up cycling, reduce car use and ease congestion on our buses, tubes and trains. The bikes are convenient, fun, help reduce air pollution and are much cheaper than other forms of public transport. They will be a great addition to our transport system.”

The public information sessions will begin in October 2012, and all docking stations are expected to be installed by spring 2014.

The extension to the west and the introduction of new docking stations within the existing area will increase the number of bicycles by 2,400 to around 11,000 and will deliver an additional 250,000-300,000 Barclays Cycle Hire journeys each month.

Antony Jenkins, Barclays Chief Executive, said: “In little more than two years, Barclays Cycle Hire has become an integral part of life in central London. With this further expansion, more people will be able to enjoy the convenience which the bikes provide to many thousands of people every day.”

Richard Tracey, Member of the London Assembly for Merton & Wandsworth, stated that "This is great news and a big step forward. We campaigned long and hard to get the bikes here in Wandsworth after seeing so much of this very popular mode of transport in Central and East London."

September 13, 2012