With the anticipated Bike share scheme coming soon to London, it might be worthwhile taking a look how the scheme launched downunder.

The highly anticipated Melbourne Bike Share scheme started operating yesterday with the first 10 stations and 100 bikes rolling out in the CBD.

Minister for Road and Ports, Tim Pallas, and RACV General Manager Member and Motoring Services Gordon Oakley were at Melbourne University today to officially launch Melbourne’s first public bike hire scheme.

The first 10 operating stations are located along the Swanston Street/St Kilda Road corridor at convenient locations including the State Library, Federation Square, Southgate, Melbourne Uni and RMIT.

A further 40 stations and 500 bikes that will complete the scheme will roll out over the next two months.

Mr Oakley said the scheme would transform the way workers, students and visitors to Melbourne travelled around the city.

“We envisage students, workers and visitors jumping on a bike to make a quick trip across town for a meeting or to attend a lecture, to meet colleagues or friends, to drop off or pick up work or simply to explore those corners of the city they have not discovered before,” Mr Oakley said.

“We are proud to have delivered the first stage of this scheme in such a quick time frame – just six months from when RACV was awarded the contract to operate the Melbourne Bike Share scheme by the Victorian Government in November last year.”

“There has been a great deal of positive feedback and interest in Melbourne Bike Share and I recommend this scheme to the public and RACV’s two million members as a genuine and viable alternative to public transport in Melbourne’s CBD.”

Mr Oakley said the scheme was another milestone in RACV’s long history of helping its members and all Victorians.

“This public bike share scheme reinforces RACV’s commitment to helping Victorians find new and different forms of transport and complements RACV’s involvement with Ride to Work and Ride to School Days and our Bike Assist program.

“People can subscribe to the scheme for as little as $50 a year, with a daily subscription for just $2.50. Melbourne Bike Share offers a convenient, quick and flexible transport option for employees, students and visitors.

“I encourage all Victorians to try our distinctive blue bikes out and see Melbourne from a whole new perspective.”