Paris, Berlin and Washington D.C. have had one for a long time -- and from July 30 on, London will join the ranks of biker cities and make 6,000 bicycles available to its residents and visitors. For as little as 1 pound (€1.20 or $1.60) an hour, users can pick up a sleek new bike from one of 400 docking stations throughout the city. The new cycle hire system was designed to make the British capital a "truly cycle friendly city," London's Mayor Boris Johnson wrote on his website. His transportation advisor, Kulveer Ranger, was among the first to test drive the new means of transportation.