[1] Visitors and Londoners will later this week have their
first chance to join the big city bike rental revolution.
Following in the path of Montreal, Paris, and Cardiff, London
[4] mayor Boris Johnson is to unveil the Barclays Cycle Hire
scheme this Friday, and Londoners and visitors will have
access to almost-free bike hire in 30-minute bursts. Over the
[7] past few weeks new docking stations have been appearing
across central London in readiness for the 6,000 bikes that will
be available for rent. The scheme is modelled on the Bixi
[10] project that has become a big success in the Canadian city of
Montreal, and even uses similar bikes. Once you’ve paid a £1
a day access charge, the first half an hour’s rental is free, and
[13] you can make as many 30-minute trips in the day as you like
without paying a penny more.
From this Friday, and for the first month, it will only
[16] be open to those who become members by registering online
and agreeing to pay £3 for a smartcard. After that period the
scheme will be opened to everyone. Once fully up and running,
[19] spontaneous users will be able to go to one of the capital’s 400
docking stations, enter their credit or debit card details, select
a bike and ride off. When they have finished that journey, they
[22] deposit the bike at the nearest docking station. You can repeat
this as many times as you like during the day – or in the period
for which you have paid to access the bikes.
[25] Transport for London, which is behind the scheme,
says it is aimed at those in the capital who need to make short,
repeated journeys, rather than longer rentals. Potential users
[28] need to be aware that if they return their bike after their access
time has expired, they face a punitive £150 late return charge.
If the bike goes missing, or is damaged by the hirer – or
[31] vandals – the hirer will have to pay up to £300 to cover the
loss. Punctures are considered wear and tear.
Miles Brignall. London joins the bike rental revolution. In: The Guardian. Internet: <www.guardian.co.uk>.
Judge the item that follow according to the text above.
Users have to pay for damage to the bike even if they have not caused it themselves.
