Comments on: BIKE SHARING TO SAVE CITIES http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: PatiThttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-74157 PatiT Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:02:45 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-74157 Alex & Leisa.. maybe the answer to the helmet issue would be to design a new, different type of helmet. One that is easier to transport in your bag or purse, (maybe foldable?) Something not as bulky as a traditional bike helmet but made of a material that is both lightweight and durable Alex & Leisa.. maybe the answer to the helmet issue would be to design a new, different type of helmet. One that is easier to transport in your bag or purse, (maybe foldable?) Something not as bulky as a traditional bike helmet but made of a material that is both lightweight and durable

]]> By: Jessehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-62021 Jesse Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:17:37 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-62021 I would love to start one of these bike share programs in another US city. If anyone has any more useful links or information for getting one started, that would be great if you could post it. Thanks! I would love to start one of these bike share programs in another US city. If anyone has any more useful links or information for getting one started, that would be great if you could post it. Thanks!

]]> By: Alexhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-61260 Alex Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:51:32 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-61260 leisa,That's hilarious! I've just returned from a few months in France, and I'm doing a project for school on whether this system would work in Melbourne, too! But yeah, I still haven't quite figured out the helmets thing...it was so easy in Paris not having to wear them, but dangerous, too! You know how helmets have those cushiony things on the inside? Maybe some sort of helmet without those, just made of plastic or metal or something, could that maybe be more hygenic, etc...? And the size thing...I really have no idea! It would definitely put a damper on the whole bike experience thing having to carry your own helmet around. Nobody would use it - it would defeat the whole purpose of the scheme. The whole thing is abput just being able to easily pick up a bike anywhere, anytime and be able to ride it anywhere you like. The helmet thing could definitely be an issue... leisa,

That’s hilarious! I’ve just returned from a few months in France, and I’m doing a project for school on whether this system would work in Melbourne, too! But yeah, I still haven’t quite figured out the helmets thing…it was so easy in Paris not having to wear them, but dangerous, too! You know how helmets have those cushiony things on the inside? Maybe some sort of helmet without those, just made of plastic or metal or something, could that maybe be more hygenic, etc…? And the size thing…I really have no idea! It would definitely put a damper on the whole bike experience thing having to carry your own helmet around. Nobody would use it – it would defeat the whole purpose of the scheme. The whole thing is abput just being able to easily pick up a bike anywhere, anytime and be able to ride it anywhere you like. The helmet thing could definitely be an issue…

]]> By: marinahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-55637 marina Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:16:09 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-55637 in italy, a good experience is parma, but old towns are less challenging than manhattan. i saw also barcelons's system and I'm working at an article that compares these systems. i'm in favour of helmets, particularly for children, so that would be a problem in a system like barcelona, because that one, as in paris, is meant to be considered "part" of the trnaspotation system. i have no idea in this respect .. in italy, a good experience is parma, but old towns are less challenging than manhattan. i saw also barcelons’s system and I’m working at an article that compares these systems. i’m in favour of helmets, particularly for children, so that would be a problem in a system like barcelona, because that one, as in paris, is meant to be considered “part” of the trnaspotation system. i have no idea in this respect ..

]]> By: leisahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-52314 leisa Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:57:52 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-52314 I'm a town planning student researching the possibility of this bike sharing system working in Melbourne, Australia. I think it's great but, unlike Europe, bike helmets here are required by law. To supply helmets would surely raise size and sanitary issues, would people really be willing to cart their own helmets around with them? Can anyone suggest an alternative or scenario regarding helmets? I’m a town planning student researching the possibility of this bike sharing system working in Melbourne, Australia. I think it’s great but, unlike Europe, bike helmets here are required by law. To supply helmets would surely raise size and sanitary issues, would people really be willing to cart their own helmets around with them? Can anyone suggest an alternative or scenario regarding helmets?

]]> By: Make It Better » Blog Archive » Parisian Bikehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-50488 Make It Better » Blog Archive » Parisian Bike Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:02:28 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-50488 [...] as a viable transit alternative, but the ones that do are starting to invest in those bikers. A wildly successful European model in Paris is making other cities start to catch on. The program eliminates the need for anyone to jump in a [...] [...] as a viable transit alternative, but the ones that do are starting to invest in those bikers. A wildly successful European model in Paris is making other cities start to catch on. The program eliminates the need for anyone to jump in a [...]

]]> By: alexishttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-50088 alexis Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:30:45 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-50088 In Barcelona we have a similar bike sharing systemhttp://arestanord.org/lord/?p=10;-) In Barcelona we have a similar bike sharing system

http://arestanord.org/lord/?p=10

;-)

]]> By: Jeanhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49793 Jean Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:27:58 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49793 Hi! It's a large succes in Paris. I'm an usual user of velib and it's more fun to rise trough the capitale on a bike. We hope to obtain an extension to others suburban cities now. Hi!
It’s a large succes in Paris. I’m an usual user of velib and it’s more fun to rise trough the capitale on a bike.
We hope to obtain an extension to others suburban cities now.

]]> By: Pink Robehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49584 Pink Robe Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:46:27 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49584 A free bike program was tried last year at the university in my city [Calgary], but people kept stealing the bikes [single speed with baskets]. I agree with some of the other posters that there needs to be appropriate [read: safe] ways for people to get around the city in the midst of all the traffic. Here, that means education for the drivers AND cyclists, bike lanes, and secure bike parking [for those that do own bikes]. A bike sharing program would be the icing on the cake, but the bikes would need to be multi-speed with low gear ratios for getting up the many hills surrounding the city center. Also, we get snow in the winter, and the roads do not get plowed effectively. This can make it very difficult to travel by bicycle, but it is doable [spiked tires and warm clothes help]. A free bike program was tried last year at the university in my city [Calgary], but people kept stealing the bikes [single speed with baskets]. I agree with some of the other posters that there needs to be appropriate [read: safe] ways for people to get around the city in the midst of all the traffic. Here, that means education for the drivers AND cyclists, bike lanes, and secure bike parking [for those that do own bikes]. A bike sharing program would be the icing on the cake, but the bikes would need to be multi-speed with low gear ratios for getting up the many hills surrounding the city center. Also, we get snow in the winter, and the roads do not get plowed effectively. This can make it very difficult to travel by bicycle, but it is doable [spiked tires and warm clothes help].

]]> By: royalestelhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49572 royalestel Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:25:28 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49572 Also, for a couple years a bicycle was my primary transportation. It's not all it's cracked up to be in slushy streets of winter. Also, for a couple years a bicycle was my primary transportation. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be in slushy streets of winter.

]]> By: royalestelhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49571 royalestel Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:24:25 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49571 Quentin, considering your comments, I see how this could work in a congested city. Though most of the people I noticed traveling around Manhattan were hoofing it, and very few that were driving unless they were delivery trucks or taxis. I wonder if the bikes wouldn't convert more walkers to riders instead of drivers to riders. Quentin, considering your comments, I see how this could work in a congested city. Though most of the people I noticed traveling around Manhattan were hoofing it, and very few that were driving unless they were delivery trucks or taxis. I wonder if the bikes wouldn’t convert more walkers to riders instead of drivers to riders.

]]> By: Quentinhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49521 Quentin Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:30:03 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49521 Hope you won't mind my french accent or the grammatical faults, here I go : The Parisian Velib System works great, bikes aren't stolen because when you want to use one You need to have a card that you buy every month, to buy this card you leave à deposit on your "carte orange" or "navigo card pass" the same card you use for public transportation in paris (buses, subway, trains, tramway and now velib). If you us a navigo card it's free for the first 30 minutes and then you pay every hour unless you put it back on a velib parking system (there is a velib parking every 300m in paris and in almost every street. If your a tourist visiting Paris for a few days and you want to use the velib system that's the same plan, you pay a deposit and it's unlimited use for 5€ a day, at the end of your stay you give back the card and you'll get the refund. It uses led lights at night and automatically re-load on a parking. Funny though it's been running for one week now and at night you can see so many little white lights in Parisian streets you have to see how popular this things are. Hope you won’t mind my french accent or the grammatical faults, here I go :
The Parisian Velib System works great, bikes aren’t stolen because when you want to use one You need to have a card that you buy every month, to buy this card you leave à deposit on your “carte orange” or “navigo card pass” the same card you use for public transportation in paris (buses, subway, trains, tramway and now velib).
If you us a navigo card it’s free for the first 30 minutes and then you pay every hour unless you put it back on a velib parking system (there is a velib parking every 300m in paris and in almost every street.
If your a tourist visiting Paris for a few days and you want to use the velib system that’s the same plan, you pay a deposit and it’s unlimited use for 5€ a day, at the end of your stay you give back the card and you’ll get the refund.
It uses led lights at night and automatically re-load on a parking.
Funny though it’s been running for one week now and at night you can see so many little white lights in Parisian streets you have to see how popular this things are.

]]> By: jhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49514 j Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:17:45 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49514 I recently saw similar operations in Berlin and Munich (as mentioned by megz, you can leave the bikes anywhere!) and another in Barcelona, but they need to be left at specific places.However, though this is a cool idea, its not suitable everywhere. Something like that just wouldn't work in a city like Sydney. Sydney is very spread out, if I'm not mistaken it has one of (if not THE) lowest number of people per square kilometre for a large city. This means biking is tougher as distances are greater. However, Sydney also presents another challenge, its extremely hilly and all over the place. The roads are also not bike friendly at all, there is no room for them. I can see this working in Melbourne, which is slighty smaller, more flat and their roads have bikelanes already. I recently saw similar operations in Berlin and Munich (as mentioned by megz, you can leave the bikes anywhere!) and another in Barcelona, but they need to be left at specific places.

However, though this is a cool idea, its not suitable everywhere. Something like that just wouldn’t work in a city like Sydney. Sydney is very spread out, if I’m not mistaken it has one of (if not THE) lowest number of people per square kilometre for a large city. This means biking is tougher as distances are greater. However, Sydney also presents another challenge, its extremely hilly and all over the place. The roads are also not bike friendly at all, there is no room for them. I can see this working in Melbourne, which is slighty smaller, more flat and their roads have bikelanes already.

]]> By: rekhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49486 rek Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:45:42 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49486 Toronto had Bike Share for years, but it was killed recently when the city withdrew funding. Toronto had Bike Share for years, but it was killed recently when the city withdrew funding.

]]> By: R. Kennedyhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/comment-page-1/#comment-49466 R. Kennedy Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:15:53 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/22/bike-sharing-to-save-cities/#comment-49466 Great idea, and the spin off would be a better general health of the people riding the bikes, and for the people breathing less fumes. Hopefully this will catch on in more U.S. locations. Great idea, and the spin off would be a better general health of the people riding the bikes, and for the people breathing less fumes. Hopefully this will catch on in more U.S. locations.

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