Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
From https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/cycle-restrictions-at-motherwell.297282/#post-7705887
If I recall rightly, at the time the scheme was started it was stated that it had no real intention of dealing with journeys of very high demand, because it's an incredibly inefficient way of doing so. Therefore docking stations are mostly well away from stations to prevent 1000 people showing up at once wanting a bike. After all, London has a transport system designed for mass use - the Tube and buses - and the cycle scheme could never really deal with this. It is primarily intended for "awkward" journeys that are not well provided for by the Tube and buses (as a cheaper, healthier alternative to a taxi, basically), and secondarily for those who are enthusiastic enough cyclists but aren't using their own bike to make those duplicate journeys.
Some attempt is made to manage this by moving bikes around in vans, e.g. a huge stock can be seen prepared for the evening in various places if you go for a wander around the City at lunchtime. But it could never realistically deal with the kind of numbers using the Waterloo and City Line, for instance, and it therefore doesn't really attempt it.
However, it can be used for that if you specifically want, it just means a short walk to a suitable docking station from the station, there are usually several nearby, they're just deliberately not right outside the door.
If I recall rightly, at the time the scheme was started it was stated that it had no real intention of dealing with journeys of very high demand, because it's an incredibly inefficient way of doing so. Therefore docking stations are mostly well away from stations to prevent 1000 people showing up at once wanting a bike. After all, London has a transport system designed for mass use - the Tube and buses - and the cycle scheme could never really deal with this. It is primarily intended for "awkward" journeys that are not well provided for by the Tube and buses (as a cheaper, healthier alternative to a taxi, basically), and secondarily for those who are enthusiastic enough cyclists but aren't using their own bike to make those duplicate journeys.
Some attempt is made to manage this by moving bikes around in vans, e.g. a huge stock can be seen prepared for the evening in various places if you go for a wander around the City at lunchtime. But it could never realistically deal with the kind of numbers using the Waterloo and City Line, for instance, and it therefore doesn't really attempt it.
However, it can be used for that if you specifically want, it just means a short walk to a suitable docking station from the station, there are usually several nearby, they're just deliberately not right outside the door.
Last edited:
The bikes are a handy way of getting around without the crowding on the Underground, although that then means dealing with traffic as well which can be so much worse!