Free weekend of Santander Cycles to celebrate their sixth year

Londoners will be able to ride Boris Bikes for free this weekend to celebrate six years of the public cycle hire scheme.

Transport for London and sponsor Santander have issued a code “FREE2016” to access the cycles for up to 30 minutes without spending a penny.

The code will be valid for use on the Santander cycle app and at docking stations from midnight on Friday night to midnight on Sunday.

Since the launch of the scheme in July 2010 more than 52 millions journeys have been made across the capital, giving Londoners and visitors a quick, easy and healthy way to get around.

It has grown from 6,000 bikes to 11,500 bikes and there are now more than 785 docking stations with 21,083 docking points across London.

July saw a record 1,188,428 bikes hired, beating the previously highest month of July 2014 when 1,183,182 bikes were hired.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Our cycle hire scheme here in London has been a huge success, with record numbers now using the bikes.

“The scheme has played an important role in encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to cycle and it has allowed Londoners and tourists to get around the Capital and see new parts of our great city.

“I hope that this free weekend of cycling gets even more people enjoying cycling, encouraging Londoners to make it part of their everyday lives.”