The end of the Velib?

[flecc]

It seems the Velib bike rental scheme in Paris is facing disaster, well over half the bikes lost or stolen, plus other problems which you can read about here:

Velib scheme update
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[flecc]

I can't say I'm surprised at the above, since I've never believed such schemes can work in cities. Bicycles of any sort are just fundamentally too frail for mass usage.

I can only hope that Mayor Boris Johnson now drops the intention of introducing it in London, for if it cannot work in the compact and relatively orderly city of Paris, it doesn't stand a cat in hell's chance in London's vast and disorderly expanse.
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[Mussels]

I can only hope that Mayor Boris Johnson now drops the intention of introducing it in London, for if it cannot work in the compact and relatively orderly city of Paris, it doesn't stand a cat in hell's chance in London's vast and disorderly expanse.
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It's dangerous enough now for people who are used to cycling, add several complete novices and there will be plenty of accidents. I could only see it working in the west end anyway where it's slighlty flatter and people would use them between tourist spots.

 

[Cyclezee]

This scheme run by Deutsche Bahn seems to work very well in Germany Call a Bike, the bikes are very sturdy.



J hn

 

[Cyclezee]

E-Wheels of Hamburg E-Wheels: Rent it operate an electric bike rental scheme using Kalkhoffs and Gepidas. They are expanding to several other sites in Europe including sunny Ibiza

J hn

 

[flecc]

I'm quite sure a scheme could work well in Germany, given that well disciplined society, and the same could be true of Switzerland.

I don't give much chance of their entry into Ibiza working though, they could be in for a rude shock.

I'm sure London would be a disaster, regardless of who ran it.
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[Vikki]

I was thinking the same thing, Flecc.

Our kids these days... you can't do nothing nice for fear of (some) kids just ruining it for everyone else. Bring back discipline.

Vikki.

 

[flecc]

I was thinking the same thing, Flecc.

Our kids these days... you can't do nothing nice for fear of (some) kids just ruining it for everyone else. Bring back discipline.

Vikki.

True enough, though doing away with alcohol would help as well!

I fear alcohol could be the biggest factor in Ibiza in any damage to hire bikes. A few drinks could make it seem hugely funny to throw the bikes into the sea.
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[Vikki]

So true, Flecc, so true and so sad

 

[Mussels]

True enough, though doing away with alcohol would help as well!

I fear alcohol could be the biggest factor in Ibiza in any damage to hire bikes. A few drinks could make it seem hugely funny to throw the bikes into the sea.
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Wouldn't catch me doing that, it would be much funnier to hoist one to the top of a lampost.

 

[Vikki]

Surely s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g them between two lamposts would be more challenging

 

[Mussels]

Surely s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g them between two lamposts would be more challenging

I don't do those drugs.

 

[Intex]

I tink the system is great. I have used it for 4 months straight laqst year, with no problems. I never noticed that there were that many stolen or missing bikes, and do not understand why that is a problem for them. The last person to rent the bike is responsible for returning it, and if not returned within a specified time, your credit card or bank account is charged. I know this works well, as I was charged for every second of use during those 4 months.

I can understand why vandalism can be a problem though. I am sure this must be limited to a small segment of the population, probably tourists, or kids???

It would be a shame if the project failed, as it works well for so many.

 

[lectureral]

The report I read said that some bikes were not returned securely by tourists - so I guess the bike can then be taken and the careless tourist's card gets a hit.

 

[essexman]

Your missing the power of these schemes. The point isnt do they work, (which they appear to in many places) its that they :
a) Increase cycling numbers and trips, which means its safer for everyone.
eg there was a rise in accidents when the london cycle boom started, but a fall in the rate of accidents per cyclist per mile etc

b) Increase cyclings visibility and normalisation. It becomes more common and everyday and less lycra clad louts.

c) Thirdly bike hire schemes would allow bike-curious londoners and london workers the chance to try cycling in their city. A percentage of those would get their own bike. (we ran a loan bike scheme as part of a BUG once and it was quite succesful ie most people who went to the trouble of trying a loan bike got their own)

Finally a velib scheme in london would give a massive non stop rolling publicty drive to cycling in the UK. In every media outlet there would be piccies of celebrities and normal people cycling in normal clothes.

 

[flecc]

I'm aware of the benefits of the schemes for cycling in general, but they do need to work at an acceptable cost, and the rate of loss and destruction that's evident in Paris is clearly unacceptable and causing the scheme to fail.

If street furniture maintenance company J C Decaux who have a well established infrastructure cannot make it work, I think the Paris authorities will have a hard time finding anyone else who can, especially in the present business climate.

I stick with my original point about the frailty of bicycles. Bicycle gears and amateur riders don't gel, hub gears get mashed and derailleurs are very vulnerable to damage. Time will tell, but this scheme if introduced to London will I'm sure have a similarly costly result.
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[jac]

hi they should put tracking chips in the bike then if they are stolen they can soon trace them they use this technology in some panasonic bikes in japan so should not cost to much

jim

 

[essexman]

bright idea jac! Those tracking chips arent too costly and a bulk order for £5000 shouldnt be too expensive.

 

[carpetbagger]

bright idea jac! Those tracking chips arent too costly and a bulk order for £5000 shouldnt be too expensive.

do you mean like £5000

 

[essexman]

do you mean like £5000

oops 5000 bikes

Still, anyone notice the main point of the article seemed to be the big advertising company wanting some government assistance? Anyone think its coincidence that this happens to co-incide with a recession?