London launches cycle hire scheme

The sprawling, congested city of London speeds towards a greener, nimbler future Friday with the launch of a new bike hire scheme aimed at kick-starting a cycling revolution ahead of the 2012 Olympics.Commuters and tourists infuriated by heavy traffic and often overcrowded, unreliable public transport finally have a two-wheeled alternative, similar to schemes already in place in Paris, Shanghai and dozens of cities worldwide.

London Major Boris Johnson has placed a great focus on green projects in the capital. The 2013 Low Carbon Prize offers the capital’s students the opportunity to win a share of £20,000 to turn their ideas into reality. This year, for the first time, 20 of the best runners up will be shortlisted for a chance to win a paid internship with leading industrial engineering firm Siemens, sponsors of the award.‬

Boris Johnson, joined by Tottenham Hotspur ambassador Ledley King, MP David Lammy and the leader of Haringey Council, Claire Kober, were just a few of the attendees opening 639 Tottenham, a new enterprise, business and volunteer centre hoping to pave the way for a new generation of positivity well away from the destructive scenes witnessed a few years ago during the riots which hit the area.

There are lots of cities where it's good to be a cyclist, but some are truly two-wheel paradises. The newly released Copenhagenize Index 2013, produced by the Copenhagenize Design Co., ranked 150 cities around the world on 13 parameters, including cycling facilities, culture, sharing program, gender split, politics, and traffic calming.