London Cycle Hire

@jamiejay - I don't think you quite got my point. It's not about the speed of the bikes it's about availability. More than half the time I have planned to use one I have not been able to, and that includes several 20-30 minute walks trudging from one docking point to another.

I'm glad to hear you've had good experiences of them but if most people can't use them - with even early-adopters struggle to get hold of them - then they'll remain a bit of froth on top of the transport infrastructure - like tourist buses - rather than anything regular Londoners can rely upon (unless they are geographically lucky, or work very non-standard hours). Maybe it'll change, maybe it'll expand, but if the system's failing now imagine what it'll be like when casual use is eventually allowed.

State funding for cycling isn't a magic pot of never-ending money, and these wasteful investments in blue mean we haven't got other cycling things, probably now for a generation. As someone who thinks smurf lanes are also largely a waste of time, and failing to be able to use the BBs, I see this as something of a tragic fail.

I know you meant availability, my comment about couriers was a bit misleading.I accept that's a problem, but it was always going to be! We've only had the bikes for a few weeks now, and if I remember right we're going to have more stations put in and more bikes being moved to empty docking stations as money starts coming back in from the scheme.

Don't look at it as a method for commuters to get to and from work, look at it as a way of getting around casually. Having lived in Paris for some time I've been frustrated at the lack of Velibs at my local stops when I've wanted to go somewhere, particularly on sunny days, but once you accept that they're not reliable you can love them for what they are!

Of course, that doesn't exactly make them worth the investment. I agree that the money could have been better spent elsewhere.