Bringing the capital’s bike hire scheme into the Oyster network would boost usage levels by at least 25% according to Boris’s Johnson transport deputy, Isabel Dedring.
Ridership levels remain below Transport for London’s initial expectations despite the scheme expanding twice since launching in July 2010.
Appearing before the London Assembly on Wednesday, Dedring said research showed that simplifying the hire fees and allowing users to pay by Oyster would significantly help increase usage.
She also suggested it might be possible to include bike hires in the daily Oyster pay as you go cap.
Dedring used her appearance before Assembly Members to criticise the level of support and commitment shown by scheme sponsors Barclays.
In December it emerged the bank would quit as sponsor next year, three years earlier than previously announced and without paying a promised second £25m.
AMs were told Barclays had not been sufficiently supportive and that TfL would expect any new sponsor to engage in promotional activities aimed at increasing ridership.
