BORIS Johnson wants London to get on their bike and zip around town—just like he does. So City Hall is lodging applications for cycle docking stations’ across London

Dean Valler

BORIS Johnson wants Londoners to get on their bike and zip around town—just like he does.

So City Hall is lodging applications for cycle docking stations’ across London.

Local planning authorities are being asked to approve 400 docking stations’ where you can get on or drop off hired bicycles.

“People will be able to pick up one of 6,000 bikes and zip around town,” said Boris. “It’s much like hailing a cab in the street.”

The London Mayor wants to copy the system in Paris where people hire bikes to get around the city.

He wants the bike scheme rolling by the 2012 Olympics being staged in East London. The scheme could start as early as May next year, he hopes.

So Transport for London has begun submitting applications this week to local planning authorities.

These include an application to Hackney and Tower Hamlets to install docking stations’ at locations such as Whitechapel, Wapping and Shoreditch, among the 400 proposed across London, which is to be heard in the autumn.