‘Cycle Fridays’ cost £68.80 per cyclist

The "guided cycles" were aimed at encouraging novices to commute by bike but figures released show that in some instances only two people turned up.

Boris Johnson was forced to admit that the scheme was so low-key that even his wife was not aware of it.

The series of Fridays, from 14 August to 2 October, cost £30,000, meaning that £68.80 was spent to attract each cyclist who turned up.