Boris Bikes pay-and-go is here

Boris Bikes will from next Friday be available for hire by casual users. Until now, users of the popular cycle hire scheme have needed to pre-register before taking the bikes.

From Friday 3rd December anyone with a credit or debit card will be able to go to their nearest docking station and follow the simple on screen instructions at the terminal to release a bike. Once the access fee has been paid (24hrs £1, 7 days £5 or annual £45), the first 30 minutes of any journey is free. Around 95 per cent of all journeys made so far have been under 30 minutes

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said; “It is fantastic that the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme has not only proved incredibly popular but the system has shown itself to be rigorous and robust. Now it has been thoroughly tried and tested by more than a hundred thousand members we are ready for the next stage where anyone who fancies taking to two wheels can do so in an instant with a simple swipe of their card.”

Boris Bike fees

Regular users are encouraged to buy a smart key for £3 to reduce the time it takes to pick up a bike. To sign up for daily, weekly or annual memberships visit www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire

What are the London cycle hire bikes like to ride?

The Barclays Bikes will be ridden off and into kerbs, dropped, scraped and generally made to work hard for a living, but a test ride suggests the bikes are up to the job.

Whilst not the lightest of machines, the bikes feel sure-footed on the road – a quality that will reassure novice riders. The gears are easy to operate and the bike’s lights are on permanently. Verdict: Well-designed, easy to ride and tough

Fully-comp cycle insurance

Every policy from the ETA includes new-for-old replacement & cover for accidental damage (race events included), third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, they will even come out and recover you and your bike. Prices start from 32 pence per week.