A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals • Hacker News Board

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#11

Post by wave » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 4:21 PM UTC

johnyzee wrote: post #5

In Copenhagen we have free city cycles in the entire central city area. Just slip in a coin and you can take the cycle out for as long as you want. When done park it at any of the stations and take your coin back. Also, pretty much every street here has a dedicated cycle lane on each side of the road. http://www.bycyklen.dk/english/thecitybikeandcopenhagen.aspx

Portland, Oregon had a similar service in 90s. Painted yellow bicycles have been scattered along Downtown sidewalks free and available to anyone who needs one. Unfortunately, it was unsustainable due to theft and vandalism of the bicycles.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#12

Post by gaius » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 7:04 PM UTC

This was tried in England, and was a complete failure. The bicycles were almost immediately vandalized by chavs. Some cities are ready for it, some just aren't.

BoJo, the new Mayor of London, is a keen cyclist, we shall have to see what he comes up with.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#13

Post by PStamatiou » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 7:22 PM UTC

I'm in Rome now and these things are everywhere.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#14

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 7:49 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #2

I was there last fall and these bicycles were massively popular. I think they made quite a lot of people ride who wouldn't have otherwise.

[deleted]

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#15

Post by papersmith » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 7:53 PM UTC

parenthesis wrote: post #3

As China embraces the car, Paris embraces the bicycle. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/11/content_...

The fact that the government's keeping a cap on gas prices doesn't help either. On the other hand, since my trip there in 2000, electric mopeds/scooters were already immensely popular there, way before I started see them here in North America.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#16

Post by timr » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 7:54 PM UTC

cawel wrote: post #7

This kind of projects brings fun traffic management challenges. On late Friday/Saturday nights, it was impossible (experienced it myself) to find a bike for the taking in central Paris, since the flow of bikes was from the inner towards the outer Paris at that time. Similarly, trying to find a bike after 9am on weekdays if you do not live in the center of Paris was impossible (experienced it myself): the flow of bike…

They might have solved that problem...I was just there a couple of months ago, and didn't see any sign of a glut of bikes in the lower arrondissements on weekdays. If anything, there was a shortage.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#17

Post by fallentimes » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 8:02 PM UTC

johnyzee wrote: post #5

In Copenhagen we have free city cycles in the entire central city area. Just slip in a coin and you can take the cycle out for as long as you want. When done park it at any of the stations and take your coin back. Also, pretty much every street here has a dedicated cycle lane on each side of the road. http://www.bycyklen.dk/english/thecitybikeandcopenhagen.aspx

I read that some cities had problems with too many bikes ending up at a select few stations. For instance, you'd bike to the shopping center and then take your groceries home via train or bus. Have you noticed this problem happening in Copenhagen johnnyzee?

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#18

Post by baha_man » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 8:17 PM UTC

cawel wrote: post #7

This kind of projects brings fun traffic management challenges. On late Friday/Saturday nights, it was impossible (experienced it myself) to find a bike for the taking in central Paris, since the flow of bikes was from the inner towards the outer Paris at that time. Similarly, trying to find a bike after 9am on weekdays if you do not live in the center of Paris was impossible (experienced it myself): the flow of bike…

I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago and saw a load of these bikes being moved by truck. I assumed at the time that they were being redistributed rather than, say, taken in for servicing.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#19

Post by mtrimpe » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 9:33 PM UTC

I was in Paris when they introduced these things and it was really great. Everybody collectively figuring out how to use these things; tourists teaching locals about the system and all-round fun. I really loved it.

Re: A New Fashion Catches On in Paris - Cheap Bicycle Rentals

#20

Post by johnyzee » Sun, Jul 13, 2008, 9:45 PM UTC

fallentimes wrote: post #17

johnyzee wrote: post #5

In Copenhagen we have free city cycles in the entire central city area. Just slip in a coin and you can take the cycle out for as long as you want. When done park it at any of the stations and take your coin back. Also, pretty much every street here has a dedicated cycle lane on each side of the road. http://www.bycyklen.dk/english/thecitybikeandcopenhagen.aspx

I read that some cities had problems with too many bikes ending up at a select few stations. For instance, you'd bike to the shopping center and then take your groceries home via train or bus. Have you noticed this problem happening in Copenhagen johnnyzee?

I haven't noticed or heard complaints about it. They have teams of people taking care of the fleet in exchange for unemployment benefits, I believe this includes redistributing once in a while.