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Tube strike leads to new Boris Bike record

1 May 2014 cycle hire London
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Almost 50,000 Londoners took to ‘Boris bikes’ yesterday to dodge the Tube strike – setting a new record for the scheme.

With 49,025 hires, the total exceeds the previous record set during the 2012 Olympics. The figure was similar on Tuesday, the first day of the strike.

The increased demand led to uneven distribution at docking stations, with many commuters unable to find a bike at their nearest station – or, conversely, trying to return them at the end of the journey only to find that the dock was full. The usage was 60% up over normal hire rates. Ollie O’Brien’s Bike Share Map chronicled the extreme demand during the day.

Check out our guide to using Boris bikes to get around town.

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