Bikes, boats in demand as London’s Tube strike puts brakes on city
With almost no underground trains running until Friday, demand for shared bike services and river transport has surged
The London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates the strike will have a direct impact on the city’s economy of £230 million (US$310 million), and cost millions more indirectly.
Lime, which operates electric bikes across the city, said it saw a 58 per cent increase in trips during Monday's morning peak compared with the same period a week earlier.
“Journeys were longer in both distance and duration, indicating that many riders relied on Lime for their entire commute rather than just the first or last mile,” it said.
Forest, another bike-sharing firm which operates 15,000 e-bikes in London, reported a 300 per cent increase in rides during Tuesday’s morning rush hour between 7am and 8am.
On Monday, Forest reported a 100 per cent increase in rides during the same period. But Mondays have typically been quieter commuting days since the Covid-19 pandemic, with many workers continuing to work remotely at the start of the week.