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'Boris e-Bikes' set to be trialled in North London

Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Ally Pally to take part in scheme based on Finsbury Park

Boris Johnson is set to trial the hire of e-bikes in an area of North London not currently covered by the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme, in an initiative agreed in principle with the London Borough of Haringey. The proposed trial is subject to a feasibility study and planning permission.

The bikes would be situated at docking stations along ‘corridors’ that will extend northwards from Finsbury Park to Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Alexandra Palace.

In Paris, operators of the Vélib’ scheme discovered early after its launch that residents of areas such as Montmartre were commuting downhill by bike in the morning then returning home by other means in the evening.

After the pattern of use was identified, operators of the scheme ensured that docking stations were regularly replenished early on in the day.

The hilly terrain of North London means that it has been deemed unsuitable for a northwards extension of the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme, however.

The e-bike trial – similar schemes exist in hilly cities such as Genoa in Italy and San Francisco – means that locals would be able to more or less coast downhill towards Finsbury Park, then use power assistance for the return journey, or vice-versa.

While the area of the trial, assuming it goes ahead, would not overlap with Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme – which doesn’t extend north beyond the Regent’s Canal in the southern part of Islington – Finsbury Park is a major transport interchange that offers surface and underground options for onward travel.

The bikes’ batteries would be recharged at the docking stations and the trial – the first of its kind in the UK – would be funded out of Transport for London’s £913 million fund to develop cycling in the capital.

Mr Johnson said: “E-bikes are already big on the continent because they take the puff and pant out of cycling.



“Once again, London is leading the way in Britain with new cycling innovations and the elevated latitudes of Haringey are perfect for this trial.”

Claire Kober, leader of Haringey Council, added: “We’re really excited to welcome e-bikes to Haringey – and to become Britain’s first e-bikes borough.



“This project with the Mayor of London underpins our commitment to being one of the capital’s greenest boroughs and to promoting and rewarding greener travel through improved cycling facilities and sustainable transport across Haringey.



“Together, we can encourage more people to leave their cars at home and offer the next generation of cyclists safer and better routes around our borough.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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16 comments

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a.jumper | 10 years ago
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So you can't ride to or from Central London Boris bike docks on these? Odd.

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Mendip James | 10 years ago
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Hang on, I thought the health benefits of cycling were being championed previously, now they want to take the 'puff and pant' out of it and are putting in place a scheme for people who only want to freewheel downhill?! It's a like a urban uplift, perhaps Boris has drawn inspiration from Cwmcarn MTB centre? Jarred hit the nail on the head.

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oozaveared replied to Mendip James | 10 years ago
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Mendip James wrote:

Hang on, I thought the health benefits of cycling were being championed previously, now they want to take the 'puff and pant' out of it and are putting in place a scheme for people who only want to freewheel downhill?! It's a like a urban uplift, perhaps Boris has drawn inspiration from Cwmcarn MTB centre? Jarred hit the nail on the head.

Some e-bikes give you the option to pedal or use the motor. That has advantages of increasing the range as well. I had an opportunity to ride a couple that were being procured for posties (really good idea in some places where postie has a long delivery round, heavy bags and big hills.)

I don't know if they are that type but I can see e-bikes assisting in getting critical mass on the road. I commute round trip 25 miles. Lots of people at the office think it's a lot. They think of bike rides being a few miles and just quicker than walking. Which it is. They think that maybe the 8 - 10 mile round trip that would have to make is a bit far They also mention hills and distance that make it not so viable for them as people who might like to cycle to work but aren't die in the ditch (not literally ) "cyclists".

My thoughts are that the more of these people use e-bikes then the more of us out there makes infrastructure a higher priority plus all the safety benefits of a certain critical mass as well. We can still peddle if we like while they use the motor but we make cycle commuting more viable for loads more people.

Bring it on I say.

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Ush replied to Mendip James | 10 years ago
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Mendip James wrote:

Hang on, I thought the health benefits of cycling were being championed previously

Sure they're losing out on the exercise, but there's also your health: do you prefer commuters in motorized vehicles spewing out exhaust, crowding the streets and driving into you on your bicycle while they check their texts, or would you rather that they used an e-bike?

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pauldmorgan | 10 years ago
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There needs to be an east-wards extension too: Hackney doesn't seem to exist for them despite it being one of the most cycle-active boroughs.

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Rouboy | 10 years ago
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Wouldn't it be fantastic if other areas had a £913 million fund to develop cycling.

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Northernbike | 10 years ago
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I hope these electric bikes have oxygen to help the riders avoid altitude sickness as well. Those London hills sound pretty daunting.

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Simon_MacMichael replied to Northernbike | 10 years ago
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Northernbike wrote:

I hope these electric bikes have oxygen to help the riders avoid altitude sickness as well. Those London hills sound pretty daunting.

Try Highgate Hill on a 23kg clunker with three gears and an unsuitable riding position and let us know how you get on  3

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Northernbike replied to Simon_MacMichael | 10 years ago
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Simon_MacMichael wrote:
Northernbike wrote:

I hope these electric bikes have oxygen to help the riders avoid altitude sickness as well. Those London hills sound pretty daunting.

Try Highgate Hill on a 23kg clunker with three gears and an unsuitable riding position and let us know how you get on  3

23kg? Luxury!

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VeloPeo | 10 years ago
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That money should be earmarked for (and was originally announced as) putting in a better cycling infrastructure.

There's no point chucking more Boris Bikes in until you provide an environment where people get injured and killed on bikes 'cos we're cramming too many things into too little space

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AyBee replied to VeloPeo | 10 years ago
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VeloPeo wrote:

That money should be earmarked for (and was originally announced as) putting in a better cycling infrastructure.

There's no point chucking more Boris Bikes in until you provide an environment where people get injured and killed on bikes 'cos we're cramming too many things into too little space

This man speaks sense!

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jarredscycling | 10 years ago
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I would think the cost of an ebike would make them a common target of theft

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Chuck replied to jarredscycling | 10 years ago
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jarredscycling wrote:

I would think the cost of an ebike would make them a common target of theft

Thieves are presumably more interested in the value to them than the cost to the original owner, which is not necessarily the same thing. Dunno how easy it'd be to get rid of a stolen Boris e-Bike.

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crazy-legs replied to Chuck | 10 years ago
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Chuck wrote:
jarredscycling wrote:

I would think the cost of an ebike would make them a common target of theft

Thieves are presumably more interested in the value to them than the cost to the original owner, which is not necessarily the same thing. Dunno how easy it'd be to get rid of a stolen Boris e-Bike.

Impossible I'd say - you'd need to dock it to charge it so once its charge runs out it's just a normal (albeit very heavy) bike and it's extremely distinctive. I presume that the battery will be firmly bolted into place.
I think the Boris Bike scheme has only lost about 4 bikes to theft - it's a pretty foolproof system. They lose a few to damage every year but there are enough spares (both bikes and parts) to simply keep replacing them.

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sm | 10 years ago
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Excellent - as a Haringey resident I welcome these - e-bikes will give me something to chase as I do my hill repeats on Muswell Hill!

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jollygoodvelo replied to sm | 10 years ago
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sm wrote:

Excellent - as a Haringey resident I welcome these - e-bikes will give me something to chase as I do my hill repeats on Muswell Hill!

Surely you get enough sprint training from avoiding the muggers?

(Used to live in Turnpike Lane).

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