Wheeler dealer

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has been featured in the tabloids recently for his alleged dalliances with members of the fairer sex, usually of the blond persuasion. This may well be getting him the nickname 'Boris the Bike'

Boris has, however, lent his name to another closely related colloquialism which is springing up around London, namely Boris Bikes. These contraptions are traditional sit up and beg style cycles positioned at docking stations around London and are designed to collect and drop at various places as you make your way around town. They are sponsored by Barclays who must be somewhat disappointed that they are not referred to as Barclay bikes.

The first 30 minutes of a hire is free, there on after a sliding charge applies . Some local authorities are reluctant to embrace the scheme, and a few well to do suburbs are resisting the planning applications for their streets, however the ones I have seen do not appear intrusive in the slightest, and with bike storage and security, a problem for flat owners I would have thought this is a great addition to the capitols transport system.

I am about to register for my dongle and may then try the system on the more quiet back lanes of London as my cycling skills are equivalent to those of a 6 or 7 year old, given I never owned one as a kid. The scheme does not supply helmets either, so we will see how I go.

As an aside, I have noticed an increase in privately owned sit up and beg bikes, mostly used by good looking women, maybe Boris is on some sort of alternative scheme with them too!!