Londoners flock to e-bikes, boats as Tube strike chaos hits
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The surge came as limited Tube services ran during the peak commute hours, with widespread station closures across the capital.
PHOTO: EPA
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LONDON – Londoners turned to transportation alternatives in droves on Sept 8 as a Tube strike shut down much of the Underground.
Lime, the operator of rental e-bikes and e-scooters, said total trips during the four-hour morning rush jumped 58 per cent from the same day a week earlier.
As commuters sought other ways to get to work, Lime riders travelled longer and farther than usual, with trip durations rising by 37 per cent and distances up by 24 per cent.
The surge came as limited Tube services ran during the peak commute hours, with widespread station closures across the capital.
Underground lines were suspended again on Sept 9, with staff on the Docklands Light Railway also striking.
The labour stoppages are scheduled to last until Sept 11.
Other services also reported surging demand.
Forest, an electric bike-sharing service, said trips at 9am local time were four times higher than normal.
Uber Boat added an extra shuttle between Canary Wharf and London Bridge to carry office workers along the Thames River.
The RMT labour union wants better pay and working conditions.
Downing Street has urged the union and Transport for London to “get back around the table” to resolve the dispute. BLOOMBERG
