London’s most southerly cycle hire docking station opened recently, when TfL expanded the network into South Clapham.
The new docking station, close to Clapham South tube station, has the capacity for 26 hire bikes, and has replaced five car parking spaces that were relocated to a nearby location.
David Eddington, TfL’s Head of Cycle Hire, said: “We are excited to bring Santander Cycles to even more people in southwest London, with the opening of a new docking station at Nightingale Lane in Clapham. The station is located on the corner of Nightingale Lane and Clapham Common South Side which is very close to Clapham South Underground station, making people’s public transport journeys from that station even easier.
“This new addition is part of our ongoing work to make cycling a more convenient, healthy and accessible way to travel in London. We will continue our work to make cycling more accessible than ever by continuing to open and extend Cycleways across the capital and making further improvements to Santander Cycles, which could include increasing the number of e-bikes in the scheme.”
There are now more than 12,000 cycles across around 800 docking stations across central London.
The expansion of the hire network’s docking stations is generally funded by the council using developer contributions.
Given that usage of these has dropped off a cliff since lockdown ended you have to ask if this is the best use of our money?
As it was funded by the property developer, it’s not your money being used.
Delighted to hear it
Way more docking stations are needed in inner south and east London. I hope TfL are not still looking at densification of Central London Santander Cycles network. The network is already quite expansive and available in this part of town. The Cycle Action Plan 2 of expanding out towards the North and South Circular is much better idea.
A good idea would also be to have pop-up docking stations on strike days at busy tube / national rail stations on the periphery of the Santander cycles network (e.g. Lewisham, Dalston, Hackney Central, West Hampstead, Denmark Hill)