tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post1217299843659359617..comments2024-03-27T12:53:39.298+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: Velib, Barclay's London Bike Hire and other public shared bike schemesDavid Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-71948249359572794282010-08-05T06:49:08.585+02:002010-08-05T06:49:08.585+02:00Anonymous: You make a good point in that the area ...Anonymous: You make a good point in that the area covered by the scheme is much smaller. However, this actually is yet another way in which the potential for the system is small. London has spent 140 million pounds on a scheme which can cater for only a tiny proportion of journeys in a limited area of the city.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-29150976616559808782010-08-05T03:24:26.377+02:002010-08-05T03:24:26.377+02:00I know it's been a year since you wrote this, ...I know it's been a year since you wrote this, but to be fair: *Greater* London has "8 million residents". I highly doubt that your estimate of "20 million trips per day in total" actually cover the area where the cycle hire scheme, at present, exists (an area smaller than Zone 1). Not everybody travels into the centre of town every day.<br /><br />So, while I do like your Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-18464398567330385582009-05-05T10:13:00.000+02:002009-05-05T10:13:00.000+02:00You make some good points but I think the bicycle ...You make some good points but I think the bicycle sharing schemes make good use of one of the bicycle's many advantages: it's quick and easy to get started. Bicycles are inexpensive and just about anyone can hop on and ride. <br /><br />This is too often forgotten, and it might be one reason why bicycle sharing gets so much press coverage. It's a quick fix which really can pay off handsomely in Erik Sandblomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14411108063216855210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-83578881544337874692009-03-11T15:24:00.000+01:002009-03-11T15:24:00.000+01:00But everybody knows that cyclists are anarchists.A...But everybody knows that cyclists are anarchists.<BR/><BR/>Anything that gets people on bikes can create pressure for infrastructure changes, when those riding start complaining about it.spiderleggreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306905473637646256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-80602588966731868022009-03-09T10:02:00.000+01:002009-03-09T10:02:00.000+01:00Son of Shaft: Unfortunately, as John Adams points ...Son of Shaft: Unfortunately, as <A HREF="http://john-adams.co.uk/2008/11/05/proving-a-negative-and-the-onus-of-proof/" REL="nofollow">John Adams</A> points out, the actual existance of any bicycle bombs, ever, is in doubt.<BR/><BR/>Most places where you can't park a bicycle for "security reasons" you can still park a car, or drive past with a van. Cars and vans can hide huge bombs and are a David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-22702818082482395642009-03-09T03:04:00.000+01:002009-03-09T03:04:00.000+01:00The embassy thing is probably a security thing. Th...The embassy thing is probably a security thing. There are more embassies and consulates where one can't park in front of or near entrances.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-72686908770797059312009-03-08T21:32:00.000+01:002009-03-08T21:32:00.000+01:00I was in Berlin in 2005, and I liked their public ...I was in Berlin in 2005, and I liked their public bike scheme. Seems to be fairly successful there too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-83126259739195621812009-03-07T17:28:00.000+01:002009-03-07T17:28:00.000+01:00Martin: That's hilarious. The Dutch embassy ought ...Martin: That's hilarious. The Dutch embassy ought to at least provide a good example. There is, after all, quite a lot of <A HREF="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/search/label/cycle%20parking" REL="nofollow">cycle parking</A> over here.<BR/><BR/>If the hire scheme results in lots of cycle parking spaces that are not reserved just for the hire bikes then that could be helpful.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-27154753983705490512009-03-07T17:16:00.000+01:002009-03-07T17:16:00.000+01:00One thing that will be important will be the provi...One thing that will be important will be the provision of cycle parking spaces around London.<BR/><BR/>One poor example would be the Dutch embassy :)<BR/><BR/>http://www.camcycle.org.uk/map/location/16057/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-34804216053916964012009-03-06T13:40:00.000+01:002009-03-06T13:40:00.000+01:00Miguel: I think it's fine to have lots of bike hir...Miguel: I think it's fine to have lots of bike hire schemes, and I don't have anything against the way that these schemes work. However this is only a very small part of what is required.<BR/><BR/>Workbike: Sounds like Stuttgart are doing the right thing in making it work with PT. The Dutch system is not just in Amsterdam. It's already at over 170 different locations all around the country (David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-34482528352432897022009-03-06T13:02:00.000+01:002009-03-06T13:02:00.000+01:00Stuttgart's system seems to work- they're expandin...Stuttgart's system seems to work- they're expanding it at any rate. It'S based on the same principle as in Ansterdam, tat you arrive on public transport and then use the bike in the city, and it's very heavily used.<BR/><BR/>I'd say anything that gets more people cycling in the city is good because it makes it 'Normal' and increases pressure for infrastructure. That said, it could be used as a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-40387130715080627762009-03-06T09:47:00.000+01:002009-03-06T09:47:00.000+01:00I agree with your conclusions. These bike share pr...I agree with your conclusions. These bike share programs are a silly promotion sold by companies like clearchannel. Cities would do much better for their citizens and their future by facilitating bicycle riding through better infrastructure including bike parking, more favorable traffic regulations for bikes, and more punitive measures for private vehicles.<BR/><BR/>It's nice for a town to have aMiguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660388837358003349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-59799071853573964962009-03-06T00:40:00.000+01:002009-03-06T00:40:00.000+01:00In Vienna we have our "Citybikes" since 2003 (and ...In Vienna we have our "Citybikes" since 2003 (and even an earlier version in 2002), but it never really worked out that well. I guess that's because we only have 60 stations (and 800 bikes) which is nothing compared to Paris or even Barcelona. But just today I read that they will expand the current system by one third. Surely that will help, but still not be enough. Plus, most bike lanes in annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14989947994626570874noreply@blogger.com