Barclays Sponsors Cycle Hire Scheme

By · June 1, 2010 at 9:00 am · No comments · Latest News · Report an error ·

tfl_cyclehire_290510.jpg
TfL artist’s impression

Barclays is shelling out £25m to sponsor London’s cycle hire scheme – sorry, Barclays Cycle Hire – and the cycle superhighways – sorry, Barclays Cycle Superhighways – for five years. That’s a nice, and much needed, sum for TfL to recoup on their £140m outlay, but Barclays sure are getting their money’s worth.

The roundel has been redesigned from its original turquoise to Barclays blue, making it quite similar to the current river services colour (though TfL have pointed out to MayorWatch that they have different wording; gee); the Barclays logo is also to be incorporated into the roundel itself, six of which will be plastered onto each bike. Barclays Barclays Barclays Barclays Barclays.

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  • http://undefined Dave

    “making it quite similar to the current river services colour”

    Yes, but surely no-one in their right mind would confuse a bike for a river boat? I can’t really foresee any problems with ambiguity here, at least.

    And anyway, this is the nature of sponsorship. Which sponsors would ever (or have ever) given away £25m for anything less than massive brand presence around the thing that they are sponsoring?

    Did those moaning about “over-commercialism” also protest against the sponsorship of the Flora/Virgin London Marathon or the Heineken Cup? Or is it just bikes that we’re meant to get all precious about?

    Personally, I’d rather have infrastructure paid for by the fat wallets of banks than the already squeezed public finances. More of this sort of thing.

    • http://twitter.com/bagelmouse RachelH

      I actually think the roundel similarity comes into play when you are (or, more likely, a tourist is) looking for a docking station, see a blue roundel in the mid-distance and cycle towards it, only to find yourself at a pier. No, not the end of the world, but still annoying.

      • http://undefined Dave

        You may have a point there.

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