New website gives info on bike hire availability across the UK

A website has been launched that plans to provide information on cycle hire facilities throughout the UK, giving a single point of reference for those planning a trip elsewhere in Britain or visiting the country from further afield.

Giving it the does-what-it-says-on-the-tin name of Cyclehireinfo.com, the website’s founders say: “Put simply, we want to make it easier for people to get information on hiring a bike.

“As regular cyclists ourselves, often travelling around for work and pleasure, we recognised the need for a simple-to-use database bringing together all the information about cycle hire companies across the UK.”

The site is obviously still a work in progress and curiously a search on London returns no mention of the UK’s biggest provider of rental bikes, the city’s Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme.

That may be because of the paid listing aspect of the site – although advertisers do get the first six months free – which we assume means that if a shop or scheme doesn’t sign up, they won’t be included.

Listings include customer reviews and a public transport finder, and are also accompanied by icons showing for example whether long-term hire is available or whether children’s bikes or trailers and tag-alongs can be hired, and if collection and delivery is provided.