Cycle hire schemes are launching all over the place these days.  If it’s not the desire to get people out of cars and appear to be greener, local and city governments want residents and tourist alike to feel good about a greater mix of transport options.  Over recent years I’ve lived in the majority of cities on this list who have now introduced cycle hire schemes and I also worked on a cycle hire evaluation project for London so I’ve got some perspective. Of course the success of a scheme is very subjective but schemes usually establish themselves pretty quickly into the transport mix for a city and find their niche (sometimes unexpected).  Often the hardest challenge for schemes is to get people to use the scheme the first time but once you’ve tried you’re often hooked. And for tourists, feeling the wind in your hair as you cycle around a city can offer a great change to the normal walking, public transport or bus/taxi view giving a fresh perspective.  Whoever you are local or tourist I suggest you give cycle hire a try.

Paris, France – a poster child for cycle hire schemes, its launch and prominent good-feel buzz has put the pressure on other cities around the world to implement a scheme themselves.  Keen pricing, and many access points make this scheme one of the best.  It also helps that Paris is fun to cycle with so much architectural beauty, gardens and laissez faire attitude.  For tourists it a great way to experience Paris and for locals it’s a quick and easy alternative to the metro for short trips.

Copenhagen, Denmark – the Grand daddy of cycle hire schemes having launched in 1995 the cycle service team also employees prison rehabilitees and gets them back into work so a nice social innovation angle as well. The original cycle hire model now adapted by many, Copenhagen is a very cycle friendly city for tourists and locals and is looking to refresh its system to continue leading the way.

Montreal, Canada – launched in 2009, the scheme has 3000 bikes in 300 stations offering good coverage but will only operate in the snow free months (snow can be a hazard on two thin wheels!).  Montreal is a beautiful city so perfect for a spring or summer cycle. Montreal’s Bixi system was designed so it could be used in numerous other cities, and has since been adopted elsewhere such as Boston, USA and Melbourne, Australia.

Melbourne, Australia – launched this year, Melbourne’s scheme is still in the process of being rolled out but the first bikes of the scheme are in place in inner Melbourne. Melbourne is a cycling crazy city with many locals already riding to work but for new adopters it might take a while to get the hang of it.  However for tourists it’s a bonanza as Melbourne is very cycle friendly with many marked cycle trails in all directions worth exploring especially the water side ride along the bay from Albert Park/St Kilda down the coast.

London, England – due to launch later this month (the 30th) so the jury is still out (and there is lots of expectation) but having lived there cycling has its pros and cons but when the public transport system is 100s years old and the streets are clogged cycling is a very good option if you need to get around.  The current Major Boris Johnson is also introducing 12 cycle superhighways to help the flow of cyclists into and around the city. Perhaps of more use for locals than tourists since walking, buses and the tube can get you most places pretty well in the city I’d like to hear from any tourist who tries it when it launches?