The scheme will initially see 6,000 bicycles available for hire at 400 locations across the capital.

London Mayor, Boris Johnson believes 'it will become the cornerstone of the cycling revolution in the capital and will, I'm sure, convert legions of people to the pleasures of pedal power'.

With this number of bicycles available to what could be described as novice cyclists, safety issues are now being raised.

The 'novice' point alone has led to Transport for London (TfL) issuing its own safety action plan, with recommendations that prospective hirers take some form of cycle training.

However, with the scheme only running in central London, it's anticipated that many of the users will be tourists, with no way of knowing whether or not TfL's safety messages have reached them.

It's been confirmed that bicycle helmets will not be available at the scheme's docking stations. While there's no UK legal requirement to wear a helmet, the lack of any specification for safety equipment of any sort may increase the severity of any personal injury should the cyclist be involved in an accident. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of brain injury and can even prevent death.

London's scheme is based on one in Montreal, Canada, where there's also a lack of helmets. There, Dr Tarek Razek of Montreal General Hospital said several people suffered 'significant' head injuries while using the city's hire bikes.

Another concern is the increased number of bicycles on London's old and narrow roads, and the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) is urging drivers to take more care.

LCC campaigns officer Charlie Lloyd said: "Cycling is inherently safe. It is the danger caused by motor vehicles that creates risk for cyclists. London's car, van and lorry drivers must make it safe by driving more carefully. Drivers should only turn left or overtake when they are sure not to endanger any cyclist or pedestrian."

In 2009, a Transport Research Laboratory report suggested that between two-thirds and three-quarters of collisions involving adult cyclists and motor vehicles could be attributed entirely to the vehicle driver. The most common cause was drivers 'failing to look properly'.

Furthermore, Bernie Hanning, who ran a bike hire scheme in Hammersmith until the Mayor's plans were announced, said the new scheme won't have enough bicycles for the tens of thousands of users expected every day.

He also claims the bikes could be blighted by mechanical failure and vandalism. The bicycles will be fitted with dynamo type lights that illuminate automatically at all times.

Team leader and cycling personal injury specialist Dave Escandell said: "No timetable for maintenance has been published and it's not yet clear how each individual bicycle will be checked and maintained on a regular basis, as they're available 24-hours-a-day and parked at any one of the 400 different locations.''

This furthers concerns that the bicycles may also pose a safety issue to hirers and expose Serco, the company running the scheme, and TfL, to possible legal action on public liability grounds should any personal injury happen due to a faulty or poorly maintained bicycle.

Safety and advice guides for cyclists and other road users can be found in the free information guides section of the website.

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