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

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

#21

Post by maximilian » Mon, Jul 14, 2008, 3:52 AM 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?

Also, when I was there, it seemed like mostly tourists using the free bikes. Most residents have their own bikes they use. usually a few from what i hear.

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

#22

Post by jrockway » Mon, Jul 14, 2008, 4:59 AM UTC

wave wrote: post #11

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.

What is it about American cities that make things like this fail? Why do free bikes get stolen in the US, but not in France?

(I'm an American, and I wonder why we have so much petty crime here but not in, say, Tokyo.)

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

#23

Post by muhfuhkuh » Mon, Jul 14, 2008, 6:20 AM UTC

jrockway wrote: post #22

wave wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What is it about American cities that make things like this fail? Why do free bikes get stolen in the US, but not in France? (I'm an American, and I wonder why we have so much petty crime here but not in, say, Tokyo.)

A culture that prizes freedom over community breeds alot of action for the sake of it. You know, the whole "because fuck it, that's why" mentality.

Additionally, Tokyo, as a populace, is much more collective and like-minded. A hive-mind, to be more blunt and offensive. Individual actions are taken in context of the whole rather than analyzed by itself. Thus, there is just about only bowing as a greeting there; whereas in the US, there's your choice of fist-bumps, high-fives, daps, pounds, pound-hugs, skins, or variations thereof. It's even distinctive by region or even state and city, or RACE.

So, because fuck it, that's why.

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

#24

Post by Tichy » Mon, Jul 14, 2008, 11:01 AM UTC

jrockway wrote: post #22

wave wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What is it about American cities that make things like this fail? Why do free bikes get stolen in the US, but not in France? (I'm an American, and I wonder why we have so much petty crime here but not in, say, Tokyo.)

The article mentions quite a few thefts in Paris, too.

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

#25

Post by Tichy » Mon, Jul 14, 2008, 11:02 AM 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…

In munich they had a system where you would get money back if you cycled from the outer circle into the inner circle.

I still don't think those bikes became a great hit, mainly because signing up for them was too much hassle (in my opinion). They are still around, but I can't imagine that they make a profit.