Cyclists to go electric with Olympics Boris bikes
Boris Johnson is giving London's cyclists even more encouragement with plans to introduce hundreds of electric bikes for the 2012 Olympics.
The Mayor tested the prototype bike on a factfinding mission to Munich where it is being developed by BMW.
The German car manufacturer aims to supply hundreds of electric bikes in addition to its £40 million sponsorship of the London Games. Mr Johnson is in talks to keep the bikes in a move to low-emission public transport.
Discussions are expected to focus on the feasibility of docking stations around the city in a cut-price deal that would give BMW free advertising. It is not clear whether the cycles would use the Boris bike payment system.
Secrecy surrounds the design of the fold-up bike — described by insiders as the "gold standard of electric bikes" — which has a range of 25 kilometres before it needs re-charging.
Mr Johnson said: "By the time of the London Olympics I want to see more bikes on the streets of London — including electric bikes. It's a very exciting prospect."
The Games will also trigger the second £81 million phase of the Boris bikes, around Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.
BMW said: "We are very keen to bring the bikes to London but it is early days. We will have to see what happens after the Games as any deal to buy them up might be expensive."
