More and more and more city bike programs

London is the latest in a line of major metropolises adding bike rental kiosks to their cityscapes this summer. Eventually, some 6000 renatable cycles will be parked at 400 kiosks scattered around the central city of London and in parts of 8 boroughs. Right now, there are closer to 5000 bikes up for grabs, each with a distinctive bright blue shield over the back tire. Though eventually they'll be usable by visitors, right now the website isn't set up for "casual visitors". Hopefully that's just a short-term glitch. Officials have stated that, for now, those who don't sign up for long-term memberships will have to register their credit card info online. In the near but undated future, visitors will be able to simply run their credit cards at the kiosks themselves.

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).

Happy cycling all!