A short history of the Cycle Hire scheme

Cycling first took off following the development of the ‘safety bicycle’ in the 1880s. These bikes quickly rendered obsolete the Penny Farthing, which had the cyclist precariously seated on top of a huge wheel. The essential elements of the safety bicycle – two equal-sized wheels and chain-driven gear trains – have remained fundamentally the same ever since.

Over the last 140 years, design improvements have led to bicycles becoming lighter and easier to use, as well as offering a variety of models and styles.

Since 2000, TfL has contributed to a resurgence in cycling, with the Cycle Hire scheme first proposed in 2006. The bicycles and docking stations were manufactured in Canada by Devinci. The bikes were designed to be step through for ease of access, suiting all forms of clothing. They are practical and robust, with workings encased within the structure of the bike and with few components removeable by thieves.

By 2021 the scheme, sponsored by Santander since 2015, had 12,000 bikes at 800 docking stations. The design of the bikes has been further refined and there are plans to add electric bicycles to the scheme in 2022. The UK government and TfL have also been assessing the possibilities of electric scooters as another form of two-wheel travel.

In the first half of the twentieth century, bicycles were a popular form of transport in London. While buying a bike could represent a significant investment, they were a relatively economical way to get around.

Cycling in London declined from the 1950s as cars became more affordable. Road safety has been a long-standing challenge, particularly in crowded parts of the city where cyclists have often felt pushed out by cars and larger commercial vehicles.

The launch of the TfL Cycle Hire scheme in 2010 was part of wider efforts to promote cycling. While the scheme was aimed at users on short journeys, either linking longer commutes or allowing surface level exploration of the city, it was combined with other measures. Cycleways, formerly known as Cycle Superhighways, are designated cycle routes across London. TfL has also attempted to address road safety and to discourage use of motor vehicles in central London.

The bicycles of TfL’s Cycle Hire scheme are easy to access, with cyclists using a touchscreen to pay and obtain a printed release code. This is then entered at the docking station, releasing the bicycle for use. Members of the scheme can also use a membership key to release a bicycle. The bike can then be returned to any free docking station.

This TfL Cycle Hire bicycle is numbered 00001 and was the first bike in the scheme in 2010. This bike was not actively used, instead being retained as the first example of its kind for the Museum collection. It has been in our care ever since.

Within TfL the Cycle Hire scheme has been seen as a symbolic project in promoting cycling as a healthy mode of transport in both personal and environmental terms. While most cyclists in London use their own bicycles, a cycle-sharing scheme has been an important part of promoting this mode alongside other initiatives that also have health benefits. 

In the TfL era these have included the Congestion Charge, an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the ‘healthy streets’ initiative. All are designed to encourage Londoners to use cars less and to walk, cycle and use public transport more.