Cycle hire in London jumps to 14% as commuters swap to two wheels during Tube strikes

Cycle hire in London was up 14 per cent today as Londoners looked to beat the Tube strikes, new figures show.

Commuters faced major disruption across the London Underground network as drivers belonging to RMT kicked off the first of a two-day walkout this week.

But for many, the chaos offered a chance to swap their usual tube carriage for two wheels, as bikes became the go-to Plan B .

It follows a similar pattern seen during last September’s strikes, where operators like Lime, Forest and Voi saw a surge in riders.

A YouGov survey late last year revealed one in five Londoners (21 per cent) cycled during the strike, with 28 per cent saying they were more likely to consider striking after the strike.

Alex Berwin, head of policy at Forest, said that additional on-street staff had been deployed to make sure bikes were available at key stations and commuter hubs across London this week, as they saw demand during peak times more than double during the September strikes.

Christina Moe Gjerde, Voi’s vice president for Northern Europe, said Voi’s e-bikes and e-scooters would also be deployed close to Tube stations this week.

“We have thousands of vehicles ready for use across the centre of London and will be monitoring usage to ensure Voi vehicles are available wherever people need them,” she added.

“With great weather forecast, it’s a great opportunity for people to try out active travel.

It will also be a reminder to Ministers to get on with pan-London licensing to solve the annoying patchwork of rules and to put in place permanent regulation on safe rental e-scooters.”
Glorious sunshine helped make the decision easier for commuters today, with temperatures climbing to around 14C.

Tube strike misery for Londoners as RMT walkout hits - live
Donny Osmond pays tribute to brother and ‘protector’ Alan after his death at 76
Alicia Vikander details her 'nomadic' life after teasing return to London
Winter escapes and activities to end the year in style
More bright, warm weather is on the way, with forecasts suggesting highs of 16C tomorrow, 18C on Tuesday and up to 19C by Friday and Saturday.

All of which means Thursday’s second 24-hour walkout could see even more Londoners taking to two wheels.