The day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap

The day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap

Ride a bike in London either by hiring one or using yours. I chose the former one by hiring a Santander cycle, which is one of the city’s bike sharing schemes. If you’ve been reading my posts for a while, you might remember my experience with the Barclays bike scheme. But on the day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap, I’ve never looked back.

The day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap

The day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap

What I really love about this scheme is that I didn’t need to worry about dragging a my personal bike around town, yet alone worry about parking. In the event that you need a break from those pedals or are worried about them getting stolen, I discovered that the scheme allowed me to travel stress free because the docking stations are dotted around London and you don’t need to be attached the same bike to continue with your journey. Which means that the bikes can be placed back in the dock whenever you wish.

The day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap

The day I shared a hire bike in London on the cheap

Even though they appear huge and heavy, I found that they were light and easy to maneuver.

Cycle lanes

Cycle lanes

They’re great for discovering London, convenient and ideal for getting to know more about events and attractions. Santander cycles are an alternative to walking, driving, travelling by Tube or catching a train and are affordable.

Docking station

Docking station

 

A row of Santander cycles

A row of Santander cycles

How it works  

Docking stations can be found in many parts of Central London. Hiring a cycle costs only £2 to hire the bike for 24 hours but the first 30 minutes is free. If you decide to travel on a longer journey then the cost is £2 for an extra period up to 30 minutes.

On the other hand, the downside to this scheme is that they must be returned within 24 hours, so give yourself enough time to get back to your nearest docking station. I always make sure my bike’s is well-kept and returned in time to avoid a £300 fine!

Attractions you might see whilst cycling  

Street Art

Tate Britain 

The City

In spite of the convenience and affordability, helmets are not available but should be introduced and enforced by the sponsors. After all, safety is important and I aim to where mine on my next venture. It’s time to get on your bike!

Do you agree that using this scheme is charged at a reasonable price and how do you think helmets could be part of this scheme? Take some time to drop me a line. Thanks for visiting.

Santander bikes