CYCLING fans are rushing to try out Glasgow's answer to London's 'Boris Bikes'.

A total of 400 bikes have been placed at 31 locations across the city - and at six extra areas for the Commonwealth Games - in a bid to get more people cycling.

Council chiefs say the £600,000 bike hire project is another step towards bringing Glasgow to the standard of European cities like Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin.

The scheme, which costs between £1 and £10 for short-term users, is being run by NextBike in a similar way to the Boris Bikes scheme which operates across London.

It has been welcomed by cyclists, who say it will hopefully change drivers' attitudes, reduce air pollution and get more people to take up the activity.

At the launch in George Square yesterday, city council leader Gordon Matheson said the scheme would expand "in future years".

He added: "In the last three years there's been a 50% increase in the number of people who are cycling in and out the city centre and there are a variety of reasons for that.

"We've watched elite athletes like Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy - and the Paralympians in London -and we've seen investment in Glasgow."

Mr Matheson said the council would try and make roads safer.

He said: "As cycling becomes more popular we need to increasingly invest to make the road network safer.

"That's about creating demarcated lanes, alternating traffic lights and crossing phasings.

"It's also about challenging attitudes and behaviour of drivers."

The charity Glasgow Bike Station won the contract to carry out bike maintenance.

Gregory Chauvet of Glasgow Bike Station said: "It will improve cycling in town and encourage people who don't cycle regularly to get out on bikes."

Cyclist Neil Lovelock, 44, from Queen's Park, said: "This is a positive development for the city, and I think it will encourage people to ditch their cars and get on the bikes.

"But I do hope it means that the council will now look at the cycling infrastructure."

Emilia Hanna, Friends of the Earth pollution campaigner, said: "We are delighted to see this scheme arrive in Glasgow.

"It will encourage more people to cycle, it will mean there are less cars being used in the city, and that would result in less air pollution."