Another thing Copenhagen is famous for? Very expensive prices on everything from restaurants to taxis. However, you can still find some deals. For example, exploring the city by bike doesn’t have to cost a fortune for a tourist. With the city’s new bike share program, Bycyklen, it’s possible to get around like a local for only a few Danish crowns a day.

Before the new bike share system launched in 2014, visitors could rent bikes for free thanks to a system called Copenhagen City Bikes, the world’s first-ever bike share program that started in 1995. (We took it for a spin back in 2008.) Those freebie days might be long gone, but if you plan on biking more than once during your visit, it’s still possible to keep your bike rental budget in check with the new system.

Related: Keep it cheap with the Copenhagen Card

How it works

Just like other bike share programs, you only need a credit card to get started, and the first step is to create an account online with a username and password. Make sure to write this down, because this is how you will access your bike. You can rent up to two bikes on the same account.

When you are ready to go for a ride, find one of the 30 docking stations, and just use the tablet that’s built into each of the 450 bikes near the handlebars. There’s no kiosk to visit before you hop on a bike like in London, New York’s CitiBike, or Velib in Paris. Simply log in with your information and start pedaling.

According to Bycyklen officials, the program will be expanding soon, and the goal is to have 1,860 bikes at 105 stations by October 2015.

A weather-proof tablet with GPS is built right into the bike. Just log in to check your bike out. Photo: Tony Webster

Pay by the hour or month

There are two pricing options with Bycyklen, and choosing the best one for your needs depends on how long you will be in Copenhagen and how much you want to bike. Checking out the bikes costs 25 kr per hour. At just under $4 per hour (at current exchange rates), it’s not a bad deal for those looking to hop from place to place on a flexible schedule.

However, another option that might just save you money is to get a monthly plan for 70 kr (a little it over $10). Every ride under 30 minutes is free on this plan, so you if think you’ll be using your bike as a main mode of transit for quick trips, this is definitely a better deal than the hourly plan. Note: It’s 6 kr/hour after the free 30-minute period.

If you really want to go for a serious five-hour bike ride around the city, it’s cheaper to rent a bike from a local shop, which costs around $20 for a 24-hour period. There are several shops that offer all kinds of bikes and even tours around the city.

Note: When you first sign up, they take an initial deposit of 200 kr on your credit card that you will get back after a few days. Also, many of the bikes are equipped with electronic locks that let you park it anywhere you please. Again, just use your log-in information to lock and unlock the bike, but be aware that you are still being charged while the bike is parked.

High-Tech bikes with built-in maps

The new system features easy-to-use electric rides from Gobikes. For tourists visiting the city, there is one other big feature that should be very appealing. Built into each bike is a weather-resistant tablet with GPS capability. There’s no need to pull out your iPhone (and maybe rack up charges!) or guidebook to see where you are going.

There’s a map right between your handlebars that tracks your exact location, and it can help guide you to popular landmarks, restaurants, and sights. When you are ready to return your bike, just use the tablet to find the nearest docking station.

Is it worth it?

Even if Bycyklen might not save you a lot from renting a bike from a shop, we think many visitors will find it a great option, because of the convenience. You can explore the city with ease on your own schedule, take spontaneous trips at any time of day or night, and don’t have to worry about where you will lock it. Plus, using the built-in tablet is a fun way to discover new places.

A free alternative

If you are an extreme Cheapo, the most affordable bike rental option in town won’t cost you a single Danish crown. Copenhagen Free Bike Rental is an organization that fixes up broken bikes and rents them out to visitors for no charge.

Participating, however, takes a bit of advance planning. First, fill out a form on their website at least seven days before your bike rental. Next, someone from the organization will meet you in Trianglen Square in Østerbro. They do ask for donations to keep the service going. It may not be as simple as checking out a bike from Bycyklen, but for the intrepid traveler, you can’t beat the price!

The post Copenhagen: How to use bike share as a visitor appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here at EuroCheapo, we’ve been big proponents of bike-share programs throughout Europe for years, notably in Paris, London, Rome, and Dublin. With our offices based in New York, it’s no surprise that we’ve been very excited about hopping on the sleek and shiny three-speeds in our home town.

Since we pedaled off on our first ride last Monday, we’ve been pretty happy with the program, and loudly proclaim that it represents a solid value for the annual pass, which costs just $95 for unlimited 45-minute rides. Even the 24-hour pass ($9.95) and one-week pass ($25) strike us as great deals for tourists, even if their trips are limited to 30 minutes.

Dip your key into the slot or punch in your code. Note that the middle yellow light is illuminated.

The program, however, does have one very important glitch to work out concerning the process of returning and “re-docking” the bikes. We’ll get to that below, but first, a quick overview of how the program works:

How to “check out” a bike from the station

In the docking station next to the front wheel of the bike, you’ll see a small slot and three small buttons (marked “1”, “2”, “3”). To take out a bike, annual members simply insert their key-stick into the slot next to the bike. Short-term members type in the code that they received when they signed up at the bike station’s kiosk.

Once you’ve dipped your key or typed your code, the yellow light (the middle light) will become illuminated, which tells you to wait… the computer is checking in with headquarters to make sure that you’re permitted to take out a bike. Among other things, it’s checking to make sure that you don’t have another bike checked out at the same time.

If all goes well, the green light (the light on the right) will illuminate, and you’re free to take your bike out.

How to physically remove the bike

All cleared? To remove the bike from the station, lift it up from the seat and pull back.

Believe it or not, this is not obvious and not clearly marked on the signage, which is why you see so many first-time users trying to pull the bike straight backwards. It won’t work—that baby is locked in. Lift the bike up from the seat and pull back, and it will become released.

Ride your bike

Enjoy your ride. Remember that cyclists in New York must follow the same laws as motorists in cars. This means, among other things:

• For the safest trip, stick to streets with bike lanes. Fortunately, the city has greatly increased the number of bike lanes in the past several years. Pick up a cyclist map (available for free at most bike stores), check out this website, or download the Bikester NYC app for your smartphone.

• You must stop at red lights. And yes, you have to wait for them to turn green to proceed.

• You may not turn right on red. This is a surprise, especially for Americans from other cities where “right on red” is permitted in cars. Not here. As crazy as it seems, the police will actually give you a ticket for turning right on red on a bike. I speak from experience.

• Do not ride the wrong way on one-way streets. This can be very tempting, especially to get back to a bike station that’s just one wrong-way street away. However, wrong-way riding is dangerous to you and to pedestrians, who often step out into traffic only looking for traffic coming in the legal direction. Instead, cycle the extra block, following traffic, or get off and walk your bike on the sidewalk back to the station.

• Use your bell. It just makes the cutest little ding-a-ling. People perk up and pay attention. Ring for pedestrians to get out of the bike lane, and to cars preparing to turn and cut you off. If you’re riding in the bike lane, you have the priority. Ring it!

How to return the bike to the station

This is the tricky part. When you return your bike, you must push your bike firmly into the docking station and make sure that it locks. This sounds simple, but can actually be rather complicated.

1. Line up the little metal triangle above your front tire to be above the metal ledge in the station.

2. Push the bike in until it clicks and has been locked into place.

3. The yellow light will then signal that the bike has been placed into the docking station.

Important: Don’t leave yet! Your bike might be locked into the station, but you’re not yet in the clear.

4. Once you see the green light, your bike has been checked in and your account has been cleared. You’re now free to go.

Locked into place, but the light is still yellow… Don’t leave!

One big glitch in the system to avoid!

During its first week, the citibike program has experienced a number of problems. Most of the problems seem to stem from stations either “going down” completely (not letting users return or take out bikes) or from bikes not registering that they had been returned (and then blocking users from taking out additional bikes).

For example, this is what happened to one of the Cheapos this morning:

He took out his bike on the Lower East Side and docked it at a station in Greenwich Village. When putting the bike into station, the yellow light illuminated—and stayed illuminated for about one minute, before turning off. No green light at all. But the bike was locked. Nervous because he hadn’t seen the green light, he dipped his key and tried to take it back out, in order to dock it into another station. But the light flashed red.

What to do?

He called customer service (855 BIKE-311), and an operator explained that the system still showed that he had the bike out. But wait, it was locked into the station? Yes, he was informed, there was a glitch in the system: Stations are docking and locking bikes, even without “checking in” the user into the system.

Which brings us to the most important piece of advice we have so far:

Always wait for the green light!

For the sake of your membership and your credit card, don’t walk away from a bike without seeing the light go green. Even if it locks into the station, if you don’t see green, you haven’t really checked in the bike. You may not even realize it until you try to take another bike and get the dreaded red light from every station.

If this happens to you (and from our experience, if you spend a lot of time riding around, it probably will…), be sure to call citibike immediately. They will clear you in the system.

Your citibike stories

We’re still very enthusiastic about New York’s new bike share, as the program provides a great new way for both locals and visitors to get around the city. We’re eager for them to fill in these little bumps in the road.

Have you joined citibike as an annual or short-term user? Do you have any questions or advice, or have you faced a similar problem? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

The post New York’s citibike program: Tips and one big glitch in the system to avoid appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s what’s new with the Vélib’ program since our last update.

Join Vélib’ online

You don’t have a microchip credit card? No worries. Before heading to take the bike, subscribe online and get a reference number and password that will let you take out a bike from any station. You can do this up to 15 days before activating your short-term subscription of 1 or 3 days (€5 or €20, respectively), so if you’ll be out of range of the internet, you can plan ahead.

The free Vélib’ app shows how many bikes and parking spots are available at bike stations throughout the city.

As before, the first half hour of riding is free with a subscription. Afterwards, the first half hour costs €1, the next half an hour €2, then €4 per 30 minutes beyond that. It’s probably the cheapest bike in town!

Buy from a cell phone (and use Wi-Fi hot spots)

If you forgot to sign up and you’re stuck at a station trying to take out a bike, all hope is not lost. If you have your smartphone or tablet, just head to the nearest McDonald’s, Starbucks, public park, or café with Wi-Fi and sign up via your mobile device. (See our previous post on where to find free Wi-Fi in Paris.)

The Vélib app (for iPhone and Android) will have you signed up in a few easy steps.  Like signing up online, you’ll get a reference number and a code that can be used at any station to retrieve a bike.

Use the app to find bikes and parking

The official Vélib’ app also has a feature that’s useful if you’re not street-savvy in Paris beyond the Champs-Elysées and rue de Rivoli. It will tell you where the nearest bike station is by your destination and how many spots are left (or how many bikes, if you’re looking for one). This can help avoid that awkward delay when you have to tell your friends/tour guide/dining partner that you were late because you couldn’t find a Vélib’ parking spot.

Etiquette and rules

Once you secure your Vélib’, make sure you know the rules of the road. Some have changed over the years, including the legal turning on red and legal riding against one-way traffic on most small streets. (Though caution is highly suggested while trying either.)

Otherwise, the normal rules still apply:

• Stay off the sidewalks.

• Stop at a red light.

• Stick to a bike lane even if it’s shared with a bus, and get out of it if it’s clearly marked “NO BICYCLES.”

• Ringing the bell is usually effective for moving pedestrians out of your way, but be prepared for sudden breaks.

• And if you have a helmet, feel free to wear it, but it’s not legally required.

With all of these changes, there’s no excuse not to enjoy Paris by bike.  The only other thing you need is some sun to complete the perfect Parisian experience.

Your Vélib’ tips

Have some helpful suggestions to add to our list of Vélib’ tips? Share with us in the comments section.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Paris? Be sure to check out our Paris travel guide, which includes more ways to save on your trip, including reviews of the city’s best budget hotels (all centrally located, inspected and approved).

The post Paris Velib’ Update: New ways to get a bike, find parking and stay safe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here is some advice on how to skip Dublin’s tourist traps, and just as important, how to find the authentic experience within them.

Tourist Trap: Temple Bar
http://www.templebar.ie/

Temple Bar is the well-known historic neighborhood of Dublin that flanks the River Liffey on the south side. Its cobblestone alleys and street musicians can set a great atmosphere – if you know when to visit.

This neighborhood is home to a number of pubs (the Oliver St John Gogarty, the Quays Bar) that few Dubliners ever set foot in. The reasons are simple: pints here are overpriced compared to other areas of the city, and the pubs are typically full of tourists and rowdy bachelor parties.

Yet there’s another side of Temple Bar. The neighborhood is also known as Dublin’s cultural quarter, and it takes on another life during the day. Visit on a Saturday morning to nibble your way through the Temple Bar Food Market in Meeting House Square. Take in an exhibit at the Gallery of Photography next door, or if it’s a rainy day, join the locals in the IFI (Irish Film Institute) for a film or a pot of tea in the café.

Do: Visit Temple Bar during the day for its galleries, markets, and cafés.
Don’t: Fall into the trap of Temple Bar’s overpriced pubs at night.

Tourist Trap: Trinity College and the Book of Kells
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/

One of the top attractions in Dublin is Trinity College and the ancient Book of Kells. It is so popular that there is often a long line to get in and a hefty price tag attached to try and squeeze up to the pages of the Book of Kells in a dimly lit room before being shoved out by the next guy in line.

The Book of Kells exhibits closes daily at 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. on Sundays) so why not show up half an our before closing time? Not only will the aforementioned line by nonexistent, but the entry fee is also sliced in half. Then instead of seeing the Book of Kells and the incredible Long Room library with a crowd – you will have it all to yourself.

Do: Visit the Long Room Library and Book of Kells right before closing.
Don’t: Skip this worthwhile attraction or wait in the long line during the day.

Tourist Trap: Taxis

When visitors to Dublin hear that the capital city doesn’t have a subway system, some think they are going to be stuck taking expensive taxis. First of all – the city is quite small and manageable to be explored on foot – and second there are many affordable methods of public transportation to help you get around.

On a sunny day, nothing beats renting a Dublin Bike (“db” for short) and cycling around the city. There is also Dublin Bus, the LUAS trams, the DART train, and even the Hop On, Hop Off double decker bus that stops at 25 of the top tourist attractions in the city.

Do: Explore different parts of the city.
Don’t: Rely on expensive taxis to get around.

Not a trap

There are some attractions that people might suspect as tourist traps – such as the Guinness Storehouse – that are actually some of the best things to do in the city. Taking a first sip of a perfect pint on top of the 365-day a year brewery at sunset, and you’ll no longer think of calling such an important piece of Dublin history a tourist trap.

Your advice

Do you have any tourist trap advice to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Also on EuroCheapo: Our editors inspect, review and photograph the best budget hotels in Dublin (some of which are in Temple Bar, but none of which are tourist traps!).

The post Dublin: Tourist traps in Dublin to avoid appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

For such a small city, Dublin is rich in parks. It has the largest city park in Europe as well as small parks and a charming little canal. Venturing to the following parks will get you face to face with local Dubliners kicking around a soccer ball, having a family picnic, or sneaking a few cans of Bulmers (that’s “Magners” to us Americans) in the sun.

St. Stephens Green
Web site

It’s certainly not off the beaten path, but St. Stephens Green is the main artery of the whole city. This park, situated smack in the middle of Dublin, is beautiful and serene, particularly in spring and fall. When the first daffodils break ground in Stephens Green, this is the first signal that winter is on the way out.

Plan a picnic here and you might encounter lunchtime concerts. Don’t be surprised to see kids walking around with bags of stale bread–they’ve come to feed the swans and ducks.

Herbert Park
Web site

In the leafy neighborhood of Ballsbridge is a gorgeous little park called Herbert Park. This is where you will find the family picnics, the after-work rugby matches, the outdoor yoga classes, and in season, lovely flowers. In the spring Herbert Park is especially spectacular, when the trees flower and the ducklings have just hatched.

One easy way to reach Herbert Park is by Dublin Bike, the city’s bike share program. The park is less than a 15-minute cycle from St. Stephens Green.

Phoenix Park
Web site

Located on the north side of the River Liffey, Phoenix Park is the largest city park in Europe. Famous for the deer that roam wildly, this is one of the best places in Dublin for a serious cycle or long run. The massive park also hosts concerts from time to time, and makes a fantastic outdoor venue.

Iveagh Gardens
Web site

Of all the parks in Dublin, Iveagh Gardens is one of the best-kept secrets. It’s tucked away just beyond St. Stephens Green, and feels as if you’re making a great discovery when you enter through its ancient gates. It might be small in size, but between fountains, statues, and flowers, there’s plenty to see. Bring your picnic here, and you are sure to be surrounded only by Irish accents.

Cheapos know that you don’t have to spend big to scratch beneath the surface of a destination. You just need to find a free park bench and open your eyes.

Your favorite park in Dublin?

Have a favorite park in Dublin that we didn’t mention? Tell us about it in our comments section.

The post Dublin: Best parks for exploring nature and meeting locals appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tourists coming to Paris look with desire at Vélib‘, the city’s public bike-share program. Until recently, when tourists asked me how to rent one, I was forced to dash hopes. For, until recently, you couldn’t hop on a bike unless you possessed a European chip-enhanced credit card.

That changed in the past few months, however. You can now register for a one or seven-day subscription on their Web site with any MasterCard, Visa or American Express card. They will then give you a code to tap into the kiosk screen at any of the city’s 1,200 Vélib’ bike stations.

Note that a one-day subscription costs €1.70 and a seven-day subscription costs €8. Both allow unlimited, free 30-minute rides. Also note that when you subscribe to the service, a €150 “hold” will be placed on your card and will be in place until your subscription expires. Read more on the Vélib’ Web site.

Not in the mood for Vélib’?

If this all sounds like a hassle, fear not: Parisians have been renting bikes since long before the Vélib’ cycled into town. So if you’re not in the mood to join the bike share, but still want to zip around the grands boulevards on two wheels, here are a few places to rent inexpensive bikes so you can play Parisian for a day.

Bike rentals

Toys Paradise
22 Rue Léon Jouhaux 75010
€12 for a full day

After a picnic along the famed Canal Saint Martin, grab a bike from this playfully named corner shop. The service is far from whimsical, but the owners know what they’re doing and the prices are right. You might see me here since it’s where I also head (often) to get my flat tires fixed. I’m not good at avoiding glass on the streets…

Gepetto and Velos
59, rue du Cardinal Lemoine 75005
€15 for a full day
http://www.gepetto-velos.com/

Over in the Latin Quarter, this packed shop offers all sorts of bikes for sale and for rent. Fortunately, it’s located towards the upper half of the St. Genevieve Hill, so you can rent a bike for the day and coast downhill, keeping in mind that you’ll have to bike back uphill to return it. They also have guides available to ride with you if you are interested.

Free Scoot
63 quai de la Tournelle 75005
http://www.freescoot.com/
€35 for a full day for a basic scooter

Located right by Notre Dame, and with a second location on Boulevard Voltaire, Free Scoot offers a solid selection of bikes, but more interestingly, affordable scooter rentals. If you don’t feel like pedaling, hop one of the many scooters that they offer to get the full European treatment.

Bike Tours

If you’d rather take a bike tour and learn about the sights you’re seeing, Paris has several companies that will take you on group tours.

Bike About Paris
http://www.bikeabouttours.com
€30 for a 3.5-hour tour

Bike About Paris is among the most recommended bike tours in the city.  The tour includes some off-the-beaten-track sights and stories along the way.

Fat Tire Bike Tours
http://fattirebiketours.com/paris/tours
€28 euros for a 4-hour city tour

One of the biggest bike touring companies, Fat Tire takes visitors in and around Paris. Check their Web site for day and night tours of Paris, a visit to Monet’s gardens in Giverny and a tour of the Normandy beaches by bike.

Rules and Etiquette

For all rentals, be prepared to leave a deposit or an identity card–this is standard procedure to make sure you don’t ride away forever with the bike.

While you’re on the road, helmets are optional but recommended. Adhere to the numerous and clearly marked bike paths located alongside the traffic lanes. Stopping at red lights and stop signs is normal for bicycles, and none of us are exempt from getting pulled over by the police, even on two wheels. Trust me, I know.

The post Paris: Cheap bike rentals, when Velib’ won’t do appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Suddenly, you could be almost anywhere in the city within a leisurely 10–15 minute pedal. With clearly designated bike lanes, cycling in the city is safe and simple. While many commuters use a db every day, travelers can also take advantage of this (almost free) program, too.

The Basics

There are 44 db stations in Dublin’s center. Stations are never too far away from one another, and are located right near some of the top attractions including the National Gallery of Ireland, St. Stephen’s Green, and Grafton Street.

If you are unfamiliar with the layout of Dublin, you might want to consult a map before heading out on your db. Each station also has a map providing details on where to return the bike.

How to Rent a Bike

This is where it gets a little tricky. Local residents who use the db program have an ID card that is connected to their credit card for security purposes (to make sure you don’t ride off for good with the bike!). Travelers don’t need the annual card, but they do need a credit card to use the bikes. MasterCard and Visa are accepted, and your card could be charged a hefty fine if you don’t return the bike.

Travelers can purchase a three-day pass right at the db stand. (Note: Not all 44 stands have credit card capabilities–consult dublinbikes.ie to find one that does). A three-day pass costs just €2, and provides free 30-minute rentals. If you go beyond 30 minutes without returning the bike, you will be charged .50 for an hour, €1.50 for two hours, and so on.

Cheapos should know that there is no limit to the number of free 30-minute rentals you can enjoy in one day. Thus, to avoid the service fees, simply return your bike to a station and rent a new one.

The Specifics

After you rent your first db, you’ll be a pro. Unlike other countries where you have language to cope with, in this instance it’s English all the way. When you approach a db station, have a credit card ready. After you’ve selected a three-day pass, you will be asked to select a four-digit PIN code. This number is important, as it will help to identify you and confirm that you’ve returned your bike (avoiding the €150 fee for “stealing” or not returning a bike).

Renting is simple: Approach the station, enter your PIN, select an available bike, press the “release” button and you’re off. Returning the bike is just as simple, and detailed directions are available at every station.

Where to go with a bike rental

Dublin is a compact city, and once you have your three-day pass, it’s all at your fingertips. Some fun bike excursions include going for a ride in Phoenix Park, the largest city park in Europe, or riding along the water of Dublin Bay along Sandymount Strand.

Best of all, your free bike rentals let you avoid expensive taxis and see more of Dublin. Have fun!

The post Dublin: Hop on the city’s bike-share program for €2 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Many of us underestimated Londoners’ enthusiasm for such an idea and predicted the public bikes would fall victim to abuse after Paris’s Vélib’ scheme experienced some teething problems in the form of theft and vandalism. It’s still the early days for London, but so far there have been positive reports, and a surprising number of these clunky, heavyweight machines are to be seen daily on the roads and in public parks.

How the program works

You currently need to register online for an access key before you can hop on a bike. You’ll receive a slim blue key in the mail, which you then take to one of the 315 docking points across central London, shown on this map. Slide the key into one of the docking points, and the bike, which comes with lights and a small basket at the front for your belongings, is released. When you’ve finished your journey, you need to return the bike to a secure docking station, and once you get the green light you’re off the meter and free to go about your business.

Your account is charged according to usage at the end of your access period (see below), and if your bike has suffered damage you can report a fault at the terminal.

What it costs

TFL plan to implement a casual use system in the near future for which you’ll be able to pay your access fee by credit or debit card at the terminal. For the moment, you need to register as above, and the membership key will set you back £3.

There’s an access fee per cycle, based on specific time periods, and then a usage charge on top. Access fees start from £1 a day, rising to an annual fee of £45. In terms of usage fees, if your journey lasts less than half an hour it’s free, up to an hour is a mere £1, and then prices escalate up to £50 for 24 hours. Clearly, £50 a day on a borrowed bike isn’t a particularly sensible option, so the scheme is better suited to short journeys.

Whatever you do, don’t exceed the 24-hour rental time: the late return fee is punitive at £150. Also be sure to wait for a green light and a clicking noise when you re-dock your bike. If it doesn’t register as returned, your timer will keep ticking and you’ll face a nasty extra charge.

Drawbacks

Bear in mind that there are no locks on the bikes, and there are light-fingered folk around. Therefore, you can’t stop off for lunch and leave it anywhere except a docking point. If the dock at your destination is full, you need to find a space elsewhere, which isn’t ideal if you’re in a hurry; a map at each terminal shows you where the nearest available racks are, and you can add a free 15 minutes if you’re running out of time. Interestingly, registered users of the scheme outweigh the number of bikes by several thousand, so it’s yet to be seen whether there will be enough bikes to go round at peak times.

Also note that until the “casual access” program has launched, non-UK residents will not have an easy time participating in the program. The official Web site doesn’t give specifics on the timing of opening up the program to those without a UK address. It simply says, “coming soon.”

So far, “Boris’s bikes,” named after our much-caricatured mayor, seem to be effectively encouraging a greener lifestyle, are affordable at the very short-term end of the scale, and will hopefully provide a good sightseeing tool for tourists. One controversial talking point is that the mayor should have pushed for cycle helmets to be obligatory; in many people’s opinion, you’ve got to be stark raving mad to ride without one on London’s frantic central streets.

The post London: The city’s new bike-share program pedals forth appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.