A bike pool scheme designed to encourage more people in the borough to take up cycling has been given the green light.

Councillors gave the nod to the dockless pool bikes scheme, aimed at increasing the borough’s low cycling rate, at a meeting of Barnet Council’s environment committee last night (Tuesday, June 5).

Under the initiative, at least 100 dockless bikes will be deployed across the borough at hubs near transport links, shopping centres and other areas where demand is high.

People will be able to use the bikes by registering with a mobile app and then ‘unlocking’ them using a code.

They will then be free to ride the bike, at a cost of 50p per half-hour, before leaving it at a docking station identified using the app.

The council’s preferred supplier is Urbo – an Irish firm that has worked alongside councils and advocacy groups throughout Europe.

Depending on the popularity of the scheme, another 200 bikes could be provided during the two-year pilot.

Just one per cent of journeys in Barnet were made by bicycle in 2013, while 54 per cent were made by car.

The mayor of London’s transport strategy aims for 80 per cent of Londoners’ trips to be made on foot, by cycle or public transport by 2041.

Councillors believe there is significant potential for increasing cycling in the borough, as two-fifths of journeys to work involve a short trip to local rail or underground stations.

Cllr Geof Cooke expressed concerns that some people may not return the bikes to their docking points at the end of a journey.

Strategic director of environment Jamie Blake replied: “If you just dump [a bike] somewhere, the clock is still ticking on the app. If you are a repeat offender, then the provider will say you are no longer a user of this service.”

In response to suggestions that up to 300 bikes may not be enough, councillors gave Mr Blake the authority to look at expanding the scheme if necessary.

The pilot scheme was approved as the committee voted unanimously in favour of the proposals.