Live blog: Do kids who take hire bikes just want to ride? Amazon Alexa bike; record breaking year for Boris Bikes + more

In the wake of this morning’s news about Santander Cycles’ record year, here’s an interesting piece by a criminal defence solicitor who regularly represents youths accused of stealing them.

He reckons that the thefts are symptomatic of a basic desire to ride from those who can’t afford to do so. He advocates handing out free bikes to address this.

Welsh Cycling has reported a six per cent rise in membership from 2017 to 2018, but investment is needed to capitalise on this interest, according to its chief executive.

More here.

HGV driver Richard Hook was approaching a mini roundabout in Weybridge, Surrey when a cyclist overtook him.

The man had a child on the back of his bike, but this didn’t dissuade him from passing the lorry and sashaying past another that was turning off the roundabout heading in the opposite direction.  

You can watch the video over at the Mirror.

Find out more over on eBikeTips

Cycling in Nepal. Two tips:
1. Check the brakes before cycling.
2. Don’t look down.pic.twitter.com/u6GGOvuIyW

— James Melville (@JamesMelville) January 3, 2019

More than 10.5 million journeys were made using Santander Cycles in 2018, reports BikeBiz.

That’s an average of 29,500 hires each day – the highest daily average since the scheme began in 2010.

David Eddington, head of cycle hire at Transport for London, said: “Despite the Beast from the East, Londoners and visitors continued pedalling to help us reach our best year ever.

“We've seen a huge increase in the numbers of people choosing to cycle in London, with a 35 per cent increase since our cycle hire scheme was introduced, and hope that number will continue to rise.”