Imagine Dr. Evil saying "one billion dollars" with a pinky in his mouth to make yourself laugh... it may keep you happy that London, England is devoting $1 billion towards a new bikesharing program (modeled on Paris' Velib) and here in Toronto the annual $100,000 to keep BikeShare going was too much:

London will adopt a bicycle rental scheme similar to a popular initiate in Paris under a $1 billion cycling investment package announced yesterday.

Under the plan, part of a series of environmental measures due in coming days, 6,000 bicycles will be available for rent from stands every 180 metres throughout the city centre.

London, which accounts for seven per cent of Britain's climate-changing carbon emissions and is at the forefront of efforts by major cities around the world to combat global warming, plans to cut carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.

More at the Star.

London is planning more than just a bunch of bikesharing bikes though:

It is a vision in which, for the first time, cycling will be fully funded and officially integrated into the existing transport network. The GLA says this will happen thanks to:

• A London bike hire scheme, similar to the Velib operation successfully launched in Paris last year, which will make 6,000 bikes available to the public.
• About a dozen cycling corridors providing safe, easy access to central London for commuters
• Bike Zones in both inner and outer London aimed at encouraging the use of bikes for short trips to schools, shops and workplaces
• On-line cycling information encouraging Londoners to make the switch to pedal power
• Improved bike/rail integration with more cycle parking facilities at stations

More at BikeRadar.

[photo by dartar]

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