London cycle hire scheme contract will provide 6,000 bicycles for use across 44 sq km
Operators of the Docklands Light Railway, Serco Group, have been awarded a new contract by Transport for London to design, build and operate the London Cycle Hire scheme.
TfL has said that the scheme will be based on, but not identical to, the award-winning Canadian cycle hire scheme, Bixi, which launched in Montreal earlier this year.
The six-year contract, which may be extended for a further two years, will start immediately, and includes an initial scheme installation period which is expected to be completed within a year.
The contract is valued at approximately £140m over its six year term, split between installation and operation of the scheme. User revenue from the scheme will be paid direct toTfL.
Under the contract, Serco and Bixi will provide, operate and maintain 6,000 bicycles for hire in Central London and 400 docking stations offering over 10,000 docking points.
The scheme will operate across nine London boroughs, and will initially cover an area of approximately 44 square kilometres roughly equivalent to Transport for London’s central fare zone, Zone 1.
'With the considerable experience we already have helping deliver transport solutions for London we look forward to working with TfL on this world class cycle scheme for Londoners,' said Nick Brown, chief executive of Serco Integrated Transport & Middle East.
Commenting on Serco taking up the reins, London mayor Boris Johnson said: 'They can’t wait to get cracking on helping us get thousands more Londoners on two wheels and I’m sure that the cycling revolution taking place in the Capital will rapidly become the envy of the world.'
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