What is known as Boris Bikes is a pubic scheme for bicycle-hire in London, run as Barclays Cycle Hire. The Transport for London to Serco Group has contracted the scheme, supported by the Mayor and first sponsored by Barclays Bank. A familiar sight in London and Dublin now, it is soon to be copied in Belfast too. The aim is to make Belfast more environment friendly. It being planned for rollout in April.
If anyone is not confident to change from 4 wheels to 2 wheels, the charity Sustrans, with funding from Belfast City Council and Active Belfast, is offering accredited on-road training sessions for free, open to anyone of 14 years age and above. The scheme will put up 30 bike docking-stations and offer some 300 public bicycles.
Over 100 cyclists have signed up for the sessions that aim to train new cyclists or those returning to cycling, teaching them skills they need to saddle on and use the bike for daily commute or going around the city. Cyclists can pay a subscription (£20 per annum) by paying online and getting a swipe-card to use, to get a bicycle off the docking station for use. Persons interested can go to the website sustrans.org.uk/belfastcycletraining to register for free training. Or to get more details they may contact by phone-028 9043 4569, the Sustrans Belfast Office.
