Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

cyclingweekly.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 286 posts

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#111

Post by zxexz »

smeyer wrote: post #83
zxexz wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would. I also want to point out that you seem to be trivializing what most people would consider a non-trivial amount of money. That's easily a month of groceries for one person.

I agree that $50 shouldn't be trivialized. That being said, in America that's well below the standard for a month of groceries for one person (unless they're eating all of their meals out or something like that). Here[0] are the USDA food plans with budgets for "food at home". The cheapest category is "thrifty", and even there they budget about $100 per month for a one year old through about $190 for an adult male (t…

Thanks for the link! Perhaps I should have said $50 is a sizable chunk of a monthly grocery budget.

For about a year when I was 19ish I managed to get by on $50-ish/month for groceries, by mainly living off rice and beans, with some eggs and other items thrown in. I don't know if that counts though because I got a lot of goods from dumpsters as well; Whole Foods throws out a lot :O

Now I'm way less frugal when it comes to groceries, probably closer to 3 or 4 times that. And I would still take that $50 for bike repair.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#112

Post by koheripbal »

koheripbal wrote: post #109
jamil7 wrote: post #73

People in this thread are getting really hung up on the idea that someone with a bike == cycling enthusiast. In Europe a huge amount of people just own a bike. Often some beaten up thing they probably paid €30-200 for at a flea market or bike shop and use to commute or meet friends. Maybe it's fallen into a state where it's unrideable. The €50 is just a simple nudge for all those people to get it roadworthy so they c…

...but how is this controlled? Do they ask for a picture of the bike? ...or maybe it's a voucher for repair work? ...or are they just giving everyone 50EU? Answered my own question by READING THE ARTICLE... > A network of 3,000 registered mechanics will be set up, and €50 of repairs will be redeemable, such as tyre changes or chain replacements. The mechanics will provide the repairs and then be reimbursed by the gov…

nevermind....

> A network of 3,000 registered mechanics will be set up, and €50 of repairs will be redeemable, such as tyre changes or chain replacements. The mechanics will provide the repairs and then be reimbursed by the government, meaning citizens will not actually receive any money

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#113

Post by wutwutwutwut »

aidenscott2016 wrote: post #103
tomcooks wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can save further by patching air chambers with other air chambers, or better yet fit a ring of old air chamber between you tire and the air chamber, creating a thicker wall that it's harder to penetrate by debris, glass, nails, etc. You can get your tires pumped for free at most bike shops, gas stations, public bike repair stations. Use your saved up 50€ for beers or better yet give it to someone else so she can…

Is 'air chamber' the literal translation from French? I like it better than 'inner tube'

I like it less because I am super confused what they are talking about.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#115

Post by wutwutwutwut »

wolco wrote: post #58
gnarbarian wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few things here, wd40 actually accelerates the wear on your bike's drivetrain. It's sticky and will attract grime which chews away at your chainring and cassette. It also gets all over your pants and stains your leg. Use some proper chain lube and your drivetrain and clothes will last longer. If you ride your bike a decent amount you'll need to do morem maintenance. Per mile ridden, cheap Walmart bikes require more…

A lot of people would just get a new bike before repairing.

I don't think that most people would buy a new bike when they get a flat tire. Some of course but probably a minority.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#116

Post by cawlin »

People seem motivated to keep their bikes maintained if they don't have to pay for it themselves from my experience.

In Canada I've volunteered at free bike tune up stations for many years, they are usually set up at popular summer events or at community centres.

We get a lot of people who aren't confident enough to do basic things like adjust brakes, gears or even change a flat tire. Most of the time they've simply rode their bike and dealt with poor performance or issues until it becomes a problem or they feel it is unsafe to ride.

For these folks getting someone to do extremely basic yearly maintenance would keep them happily riding for a long time.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#117

Post by wutwutwutwut »

kalleboo wrote: post #96
xenocyon wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your calculation assumes one never needs to replace brake pads, chain, tires; it also makes no allowance for lights, tools, incidentals, or the occasions one might need professional repair. Incidentally, WD40 is not a good substitute for lube.

I'm in Japan, so prices will be different, but I bought a cheap chinesium city bike (but with fancy in-hub-generation LED lighting) for under $200, and it came with a "3 years of free checkups and repairs, 5 years accident insurance" plan. For those 3 years I brought my bike in every couple months and they'd clean it, oil it, align the brakes, and pump the tyres. Additional repairs (wheel & tyre since I'm a fatass wh…

I bought a bike for $900 about 7 years ago. I ride to work every day (25km back and forth) and the maintenance have consisted of one tube and a few packages of lube for chain, probably around $50 in total. The tires need replacement but so far they hold up...

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#118

Post by ploika »

Noos wrote: post #90
ploika wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely. There are plenty of people who have a bike with a flat tyre and a rusty chain and no lights or whatever. They might go back to taking the bus or metro, but if they were offered a free service (effectively) to make cycling a viable option, they'll take it. I know loads of people who cycle to work because of Ireland's Bike To Work scheme. They can all afford a bike without help, but the extra incentive was…

Its rare that you bike somewhere you can't just walk to. If you are that poor to need a government handout to fix it, you don't need it just for the bike.

I can cycle to work in about 20 minutes, or walk to work in about 70 minutes. Cycling is convenient for me, walking is not.

Viewing this is as poor people needing a government handout is a very strange interpretation of what's being proposed. It's a public health and environmental nudge.

It's like when sugar taxes are discussed, and everyone says "why don't they make the healthy things cheaper?" Well now getting a bike serviced is being subsidised. But again, it's not even about the money really.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#119

Post by cyrillevincey »

Majestic121 wrote: post #59
cyrillevincey wrote: post #46

This €50 subsides is a fantasy from Cycling Weekly. No announcement was made by any local or national public authority, and no sign in the French news about this. Love from Paris anyway.

If you want a reputable French source : https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2020/04/30/un-plan-go...

ok my bad

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#120

Post by wutwutwutwut »

abyssin wrote: post #85
GhostVII wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I've very rarely needed to replace those consumables, and I ride my bikes very hard. Only time I have needed a new chain and cassette is when I let my bike rust because I rode it all winter without washing it. And I've got like one set of brake pads in the last 5 years for my 2-3 bikes, since disk brake pads last pretty well forever as long as you don't foul them with something. I do go through a lot of t…

I doubt your story. Disc brake pads do wear out, especially if you ride very hard. The same is true for chain and cassette.

Everything wears out of course, but I've had mine for 7 years going back and forth to work every day and never replaced my breaks or chain or cassette. Maybe you experience a quality issue if it's a frequent issue?
Post reply on HN