Companies are being invited to submit bids to become the sponsor of London’s forthcoming cycle hire scheme.
Transport for London says it is seeking a single company to sponsor the scheme for the first five years with the successful bidder’s brand appearing on the bikes and uniforms of maintenance staff.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “The public response to our cycle hire plans has been fantastic, and I’m sure that this excitement will be replicated amongst potential sponsors. I know people will be attracted to the scheme, but such is the widespread enthusiasm that I am certain that the selected company will also feel a huge benefit to being part of it. This – London’s next transport icon – will be the cleanest, greenest, and healthiest way of getting about the city.”
Earlier this week TfL announced it had started the process of applying for planning permission for 400 docking stations from which the bikes can be hired.
Companies interested in becoming the sponsor should respond by logging on to https://tfl.bravosolution.co.uk and select Tender Opportunities.
TawkinSenz says
Oh dear – what a disappointment.
I thought this was going to be a good scheme for Londoners – sadly the obsession with handing everything over to the private sector strikes again at the heart of common sense.
The scheme is NOT about making money (which is the sole interest of the private sector) it is about encouraging cycle use and reducing congestion in London.
A private scheme is unlikely to achieve either of these and it will be jumped upon by the people who oppose it as being a failure.
When will they learn? Still politicians haven’t learnt from the infamous privatisations of rail, utilities and soon the post office. Following revelations about expenses and the complete absence of morals from politicians in general perhaps they don’t care because someone is getting ‘a nice bung’ out of it.
The private sector will price the cycle hire too high and dissuade most people from using them. They will simply provide huge bike stands with bikes nobody will want to use.