Until now, only members who had signed up in advance to receive their release key could hire the bikes but now the scheme is open to non-members who wish to just pay the terminals.

The cycle hire scheme went live in July but plans to allow casual users to try them have been delayed until now to allow the operator, Serco, to deal with ‘teething problems‘.

There are cycle hire docking stations in the following Mayfair locations:

• Curzon Street
• Sackville Street
• Grafton Street
• Bruton Street
• St George Street
• South Audley Street
• Millennium Hotel
• Grosvenor Square
• North Audley Street
• Green Street
• Woodstock Street

The influential British designer was in mourning for his mother who recently died.  He posted a message to his now-deleted Twitter account last week saying “awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together”. His very last Twitter message was posted earlier today and said: “im here with my girl annie tinkerbell wishing kerry the slag ,happy birthday in NY ,your 40 now girl time to slow it down we think.”

His death was confirmed with an official statement on his website:

ON BEHALF OF LEE MCQUEEN’S FAMILY, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN TODAY ANNOUNCES THE TRAGIC NEWS THAT LEE MCQUEEN, THE FOUNDER AND DESIGNER OF THE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN BRAND HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME. AT THIS STAGE IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT ON THIS TRAGIC NEWS BEYOND SAYING THAT WE ARE DEVASTATED AND ARE SHARING A SENSE OF SHOCK AND GRIEF WITH LEE’S FAMILY.

His career started with an apprenticeship at Savile Row Anderson & Sheppard, before moving on to Gieves & Hawkes.

McQueen’s body was removed from his Green Street apartment this afternoon and then ghoulishly followed through London streets by a 24 hour news channel’s helicopter.