71–80 of 137 posts
I love the idea, but it's doomed to failure. I live in a city with a bike-sharing system. It's deeply unprofitable and exists only at the sufferance of the city government. There are a number of flaws. Number 1 is that people who ride bikes don't rent them, they own them. For $100 anyone can purchase a bicycle that will last indefinitely and be available 24/7/365. Number 2 is that people vandalize the shit out of bic…
I commute to work on bike every day, but I still am a happy member of my city's bike share program. Even though I have a bike locked in the garage under the building, I use bikeshare to go to meetings at other buildings in the city during the day. I would rather that my personal bike remain safe in my office building's guarded garage, rather than parked on the street. Also, heading into a meeting, it takes me 3 secon…
Or do you use these bikes going between destinations which have these bike stations so you don't expose yourself to any risk of leaving unattended?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Heh, the cure sounds worse than the disease. "Make the bikes so unpleasant that no will want to steal them (or use them)." I agree that there is room for creativity here. There are so many things to try. For instance, I noticed that ViaCycle seems to be piloting on college campuses. Might it be possible to put docking stations _inside_ of academic buildings, requiring a college ID swipe to get in, and possibly being…
Having used the London bikes when I visited, they really aren't so bad. Not as good as the bike I have at home, but they do everything you'd want out of a beater bike. No one is racing them or anything, just going from one place to another.
There are quite a few cycle hire alleycats around the world. The London ones are fun.
One of my friends rode the Dunwich Dynamo on a cycle hire bike. 200km overnight on a bike that you couldn't service or fix a puncture on... pretty brave.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the success or failure depends on too many factors to just say "It won't work" based on the idea alone. I remember that just a few years ago (in 2000), Amsterdam aborted a pilot program for public bicycles, because they all got stolen or vandalised [1]. Since 2006 a new nationwide scheme is being operated by the country's largest train company and it's doing great. I currently live in London and the Barclays…
Heh, the cure sounds worse than the disease. "Make the bikes so unpleasant that no will want to steal them (or use them)." I agree that there is room for creativity here. There are so many things to try. For instance, I noticed that ViaCycle seems to be piloting on college campuses. Might it be possible to put docking stations _inside_ of academic buildings, requiring a college ID swipe to get in, and possibly being…
http://www.bromptondock.co.uk/
Then you get one of the best folding bikes, perfectly good for general use too.
They have plans for long-term hires too so you can use a bike daily and guarantee it is there for your commute. In the UK these Brompton Docks are mostly located at rail stations so that you have a bike waiting for you at the end.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I commute to work on bike every day, but I still am a happy member of my city's bike share program. Even though I have a bike locked in the garage under the building, I use bikeshare to go to meetings at other buildings in the city during the day. I would rather that my personal bike remain safe in my office building's guarded garage, rather than parked on the street. Also, heading into a meeting, it takes me 3 secon…
If the bike is damaged or stolen while under your care are you not liable for it? Or do you use these bikes going between destinations which have these bike stations so you don't expose yourself to any risk of leaving unattended?
Concerning the design of the bikes, I think there is still room for improvement. The designers can look at the design of the Public Transportation Bike ("OV-Fiets") in the Netherlands[1] which was a major success in a country where there already were more bikes than people before it's introduction. For a bike that is available 24 you would want a bicycle lamp on the front with a dynamo instead of just reflectors. Thi…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I commute to work on bike every day, but I still am a happy member of my city's bike share program. Even though I have a bike locked in the garage under the building, I use bikeshare to go to meetings at other buildings in the city during the day. I would rather that my personal bike remain safe in my office building's guarded garage, rather than parked on the street. Also, heading into a meeting, it takes me 3 secon…
If the bike is damaged or stolen while under your care are you not liable for it? Or do you use these bikes going between destinations which have these bike stations so you don't expose yourself to any risk of leaving unattended?
viaCycle's system allows riders to secure their bicycle between stations, so you're not forced to ride from to specific points until you're ready to check it back into the system. Enforcing a penalty for bikes that get stolen helps reinforce proper locking of the bicycle.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the success or failure depends on too many factors to just say "It won't work" based on the idea alone. I remember that just a few years ago (in 2000), Amsterdam aborted a pilot program for public bicycles, because they all got stolen or vandalised [1]. Since 2006 a new nationwide scheme is being operated by the country's largest train company and it's doing great. I currently live in London and the Barclays…
Montreal has the same system (Bixi), with exactly the same sturdy features as the London system. Some local management issues aside, the system is running quite smoothly. It's a stretch to say "This will never work!" when something already is working, and avoiding the specific issues complained about.
http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/03/16/bixi-raising-mon...
I love the idea, but it's doomed to failure. I live in a city with a bike-sharing system. It's deeply unprofitable and exists only at the sufferance of the city government. There are a number of flaws. Number 1 is that people who ride bikes don't rent them, they own them. For $100 anyone can purchase a bicycle that will last indefinitely and be available 24/7/365. Number 2 is that people vandalize the shit out of bic…
Counterpoints: http://en.velib.paris.fr/ http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/14808.aspx http://www.citybikes.se/en/ http://www.dublinbikes.ie/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bixi
I'm wondering what happens when someone gets hit by a car and complains that the bike didn't include a helmet. Don't get me wrong. I love the idea in every way, shape, and form - but I have serious questions about the legal safety issues.