South West Trains and Brompton Hire

I saw two of these today at Waterloo.

I must say, its the best initiative I have seen in a while.

http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1286[URL="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif"][/URL]

"During February, March and April in 2009, first-class season-ticket holders are able to hire a Brompton folding bicycle free of charge."

good idea.
but i cant imagine the type of person who has a first class season ticket wanting to ride a bike anywhere.
they will be sitting they're fat rich arses in the back of a cab.

considering the amount train tickets cost these days, they should be offering them to people with *any *kind of season ticket.
it really bugs me that it's allways the people who dont need free stuff are the ones that get it.

so on the whole, this has really pissed me off.

Its for gold card holders (annual season ticket). Not just first class.

Not sure why it says that on the website :s

oh, ok.
well whoever wrote that article on the website is a bit of an idiot, and will prob piss alot of people off.
including me.

whoa chill dude, come to Wests have a beer, stroke Greasy's mane, relax!

can't dude, gotta hit Decathlon tonight and grab some cleats for saturday morning!

....and i'm still a little pissed off ;)

Someone is serious. Have fun on Sat.

I see a small positive side to that, less fat cat taking taxi, i.e. less taxi jumping red, accelerating like a mother due to the driver trying to get big tips.

I see a big positive. More people cycling.

This is not some kind of elitist scheme.

Only time will tell I suppose.

I see a small positive side to that, less fat cat taking taxi, i.e. less taxi jumping red, accelerating like a mother due to the driver trying to get big tips.

or fewer people taking taxis -> taxi drivers more pissed off & more likely to take it out on cyclists...

if less people take taxi, how would the taxi automatically blame the cyclists for reducing their business?

I mean, particually in central London I see usually rich tourists, oversea bankers, stockholders, etc. taking taxi, as well as a handful of local suit, surely right now they'd blame the current recession than the cyclists.

It makes a lot of sense for commuters, and anything that starts promoting integrated transport ideas is good in my book! I'm guessing they are held at Waterloo and hired from there, but if it gets train staff more bike friendly and accommodating on trains then that's all good too.

I like it

Read the article now, even better! They get the bike at all times. I can't see anything negative about this scheme.

if less people take taxi, how would the taxi automatically blame the cyclists for reducing their business?

I mean, particually in central London I see usually rich tourists, oversea bankers, stockholders, etc. taking taxi, as well as a handful of local suit, surely right now they'd blame the current recession than the cyclists.

I did not mean the taxi drivers would blame the cyclists per se, just that they would have more anger than usual, and hence be more likely to take it out on cyclists than usual. Never mind, tongue was firmly in cheek.

LCC Site[/url]]The pilot is intended to gauge demand for one-day and multi-day bike hire out of Waterloo, with a view to the hire scheme becoming a commercial enterprise later this year.

Ahh, it's only a free trial. I guess a negative maybe if the current bike space is then prioritised for these hire bikes, or if it becomes only these bikes allowed on trains. Can't see that happening but there's not a great deal of space for bikes currently.

I'll shut up now and read the article first in future!

Its good. Its not http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velib, but its good.

*appears I need some html training

I did not mean the taxi drivers would blame the cyclists per se, just that they would have more anger than usual, and hence be more likely to take it out on cyclists than usual. Never mind, tongue was firmly in cheek.

got your logic, fair point.

That's a nice scarf you have there, Ved.

thanks my girlfriend got it.

News to me as a SWT gold season ticket holder (non-fat cat class).

Here is the link.
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_bikescheme.htm?&MSHiC=65001&L=10&W=BROMPTONS+brompton+&Pre=%3CFONT+STYLE%3D%22color%3A+%23000000%3B+background-color%3A+%23FFFF00%22%3E&Post=%3C%2FFONT%3E

Now just got find the lost property office at Waterloo...

Its behind macdonalds opposite evans cycles if that makes sense.

I was gonna raid them last night and jump on a brompton to Wests, but they were shut.

thanks my girlfriend got it.

Is that her on the left?

Yep, she's a looker.

obviously