Hiring a Boris Bike

[Spartak]

I have a meeting in London on Wednesday & was considering using a Boris Bike rather than the Tube.

Any tips etc.

I'm arriving at Paddington at 08:30 & need to get to Tower Hill by 10:00 !

Does anyone know if there are docking points nearby ?

Is it easy to hire one ?

 

[Tim Hall]

Look on the tfl website to find the nearest docking points. Here.
Looks like there's three points near Paddington and one at Tower Hill.

Hiring is easy but requires a credit card if you're not a member. Cost is £2.00, which gets you a day's access, plus actual journey charges. The really good bit is for journeys upto 30 minutes, the journey charge is a big fat zero. So if you can get from Paddington to Tower Hill in less than half an hour, you only pay the £2.00 access charge. And if you go back to Paddington the same day in less than half an hour, you're still on the original £2.00 access charge. Allow a bit of faffing time to get the bike out and do the credit card thing.

 

[rebelpeter]

Look on the tfl website to find the nearest docking points. Here.
Looks like there's three points near Paddington and one at Tower Hill.

Hiring is easy but requires a credit card if you're not a member. Cost is £2.00, which gets you a day's access, plus actual journey charges. The really good bit is for journeys upto 30 minutes, the journey charge is a big fat zero. So if you can get from Paddington to Tower Hill in less than half an hour, you only pay the £2.00 access charge. And if you go back to Paddington the same day in less than half an hour, you're still on the original £2.00 access charge. Allow a bit of faffing time to get the bike out and do the credit card thing.

Is it really just 2 pound to hire these boris bikes i have only seen them on tv,
but is so thats really cheap.

 

[ianrauk]

Is it really just 2 pound to hire these boris bikes i have only seen them on tv,
but is so thats really cheap.

Yup, £2.00 for the day, as many journey's as you like at no extra charge if each hire lasts less then half hour, (you can just change bikes)

 

[Bromptonaut]

If you change bikes en-route to avoid exceeding 30mins allow a bit for the changeover. System makes you wait five minutes after docking first bike before releasing the second.

 

[rebelpeter]

Yup, £2.00 for the day, as many journey's as you like at no extra charge if each hire lasts less then half hour, (you can just change bikes)

This is soooooo cheap i thought they would be maybe a tenner, they cant be making that much for 2 quid
oity i never go to London i would like a ride round on one of these bikes, any gears or am i being greedy . . . .

 

[ianrauk]

This is soooooo cheap i thought they would be maybe a tenner, they cant be making that much for 2 quid
oity i never go to London i would like a ride round on one of these bikes, any gears or am i being greedy . . . .

There are millions of users....and they are also subsidised.

 

[rebelpeter]

If you change bikes en-route to avoid exceeding 30mins allow a bit for the changeover. System makes you wait five minutes after docking first bike before releasing the second.

It seems such a bargain and it is so surprising they are not ripping the british motorist off but at 2 quid they are
really helping us for a change . . ..

 

[rb58]

......... any gears or am i being greedy . . . .

They have three speed hub gears. They're heavy old bikes, but think sofa with wheels.
Top tip: to release them from the docking station, lift the rear of the bike a few inches (I use the saddle) then pull back sharply.
And a great game is to try and ride the bike straight into the dock with stopping (not as easy as it sounds).

 

[Pale Rider]

Padders to Tower Hill is best part of six miles, so not really doable in 30mins.

It's also one of those journeys where you could cross the river twice - over Westminster Bridge, hack along the The Cut and nip back over London Bridge.

 

[Spartak]

[QUOTE 2960873, member: 45"]Download the app. I've found a few times on arriving at that time at Paddington that the nearest docking station was empty. The app has live info on where the nearest available bikes are.[/quote]

Arrived at Paddington & checked app to see bikes available nearby so hired one

Padders to Tower Hill is best part of six miles, so not really doable in 30mins.

It's also one of those journeys where you could cross the river twice - over Westminster Bridge, hack along the The Cut and nip back over London Bridge.

http://www.strava.com/activities/117951500

Had a great ride across London taking in many of the sights inc. Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, cycled up the Mall to Trafalgar Square then down Whitehall passing Downing St. then past Big Ben & over the river ( following Pale Riders advice ) then back over London Bridge, before crossing Tower Bridge, just to say I'd done it !

Picked up another bike after my meeting & took a more direct route back passing St. Pauls Cathedral, but then did a lap of the Serpentine enjoying the spring sunshine

Thanks to all that posted advice, after my initial post, I'd recommend it to anyone visiting London.

 

[Pale Rider]

Arrived at Paddington & checked app to see bikes available nearby so hired one



http://www.strava.com/activities/117951500

Had a great ride across London taking in many of the sights inc. Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, cycled up the Mall to Trafalgar Square then down Whitehall passing Downing St. then past Big Ben & over the river ( following Pale Riders advice ) then back over London Bridge, before crossing Tower Bridge, just to say I'd done it !

Picked up another bike after my meeting & took a more direct route back passing St. Pauls Cathedral, but then did a lap of the Serpentine enjoying the spring sunshine

Thanks to all that posted advice, after my initial post, I'd recommend it to anyone visiting London.

Out one way, back another - just the job.

As an infrequent visitor to London, I've had similarly good times on Boris Bikes and would also recommend them.

 

[Spartak]

Out one way, back another - just the job.

As an infrequent visitor to London, I've had similarly good times on Boris Bikes and would also recommend them.

Much more pleasant than the Tube

 

[Pale Rider]

Much more pleasant than the Tube

Just as fast, too, if I read your Strava link correctly.

Looks like it took you about 40mins on the bike, I can't see the tube being any quicker.

 

[Spartak]

Just as fast, too, if I read your Strava link correctly.

Looks like it took you about 40mins on the bike, I can't see the tube being any quicker.

........ and cheaper