Rental costs are, for the most part, quite modest. Pedal for less than half an hour, and you'll do it for free. Hour long rentals come to $1.50 at the current exchange rate, thought that price jumps sharply to $6 if you keep the bike out for 90 minutes. How often visitors will actually bike for 90 minutes or more is questionable, as most of the major sites in London are less than an hour apart by bike. Full info on the new program is available at the link above.
Other cities that have debuted these wonderfully green, bike-rental programs just in the last few months include:
- Minneapolis: $5 per half hour or $60 per year-long membershipe
- Denver: Free for 30 minutes or less, $1.10 for 31-60 minutes, $3.30 for 61-90 minutes, $5 for 24 hours, $20 for 7 days
- Melbourne: First 30 minutes free, $2 Australian or up to an hour, $5 for up to 90 minutes, then down to $2.50 per day (so if you think you'll be out for a long ride, go with the daily option).
Re: "How often visitors will actually bike for 90 minutes or more is questionable, as most of the major sites in London are less than an hour apart by bike."
ReplyDeleteMy view differs on this ; a bike is not just a method of transportation, it is an experience in itself. While it can bring you to a given place, the point is more to enjoy the ride, see the places (in between) and feel the wind flowing - without having the artificial barrier/shield that a car would give.
I'm now in San Francisco, will bike tomorrow - here one can rent a bike for $32/day.
Montreal ( http://montreal.bixi.com/ )and Paris ( http://www.velib.paris.fr/ ) also have extensive bike rental systems.
The programs that you describe (as well as Montreal and Paris) are automated, which brings cost down. Whereas in New York or San Francisco, one would have to rent from a bike store, where the process is less standardized and human involvement is necessary (higher cost).