Skip to content

London’s Bike-share How-To

For your viewing pleasure this weekend, here's the animation produced by Transport for London explaining how to use Barclays Cycle Hire -- the 570-station bike-share system that launched about two years ago. There's a lot to cover in a little more than four minutes: when bike-share is useful, how to get a membership, what not to do with your bike, how to handle a bike that needs repair, and so forth.

For your viewing pleasure this weekend, here’s the animation produced by Transport for London explaining how to use Barclays Cycle Hire — the 570-station bike-share system that launched about two years ago. There’s a lot to cover in a little more than four minutes: when bike-share is useful, how to get a membership, what not to do with your bike, how to handle a bike that needs repair, and so forth.

In New York, we’ve already seen some confusion about what sort of trips bike-share is meant for, and even something as simple as swiping a Metrocard has a learning curve. We could probably use a video like this before Citi Bike launches in July.

We’ll see you back here on Tuesday, Streetsblog readers. In the meantime, feel free to share your storyboard ideas for NYC bike-share how-to videos in the comments.

Photo of Ben Fried
Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

DOT May Push Mamdani’s W. 72nd Street Bike Lane to Next Year Amid Lawsuit Threat

August 27, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Lehrer’s Essential Blindness Edition

August 27, 2026

In Her Own Words: ‘Nobody Is Envying Us Today, Zohran’

August 26, 2026

Mamdani BQE Plan Teases Brooklyn Third Av. Redesign Stalled by Adams

August 26, 2026

A Helmet Won’t Save Mayor Mamdani From a Car Crash

August 26, 2026
See all posts