[sustran] Re: New Share Bike scheme in Taipei

[Zvi Leve]

Bixi certainly has many good ideas, but I have serious concerns about their
pricing model for Montreal. Note that their rates may work elsewhere, but
Montreal already has a huge number of bicyclists and relatively inexpensive
public transport. They are pricing the service more like a 'taxi', but a
taxi brings you door-to-door, not parking station to parking station!

There are no mandatory helmet laws in Montreal (although I think that one of
the borroughs might have one), so this is just marketing imagery. The
residential street shown is a typical Montreal street with walk-up
plex-style housing<http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/05/03/they-work-on-so-many-levels/>.
Most of these streets do not have huge amounts of traffic, and there is a
growing movement to reduce the speed limits on all residential streets to 30
kph....

The idea of having a modular system is that it can easily be adapted to the
demand. In theory, the system could even be adjusted throughout the day, so
that the stations could expand or contract as needed. Presumably the system
will be taken down in the winter here, when only the most motivated people
are out and about on bicycles. It is quite an experience riding on a bike at
-30: the seat is frozen solid, among other things. There are still remnants
of ice on the ground, and the temperatures are often below freezing,
but I started
biking this week <http://www.flickr.com/photos/zvileve/3384105890/>, and my
daughter is happy <http://www.flickr.com/photos/zvileve/3384104070/>....

Cheers,

Zvi

2009/3/25 Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory <edelman at greenidea.eu>

>  BIXI certainly has a detailed and enthusiastic website but I have two
> serious questions about imagery:
>
> <http://www.bixisystem.com/we_are_bixi/><http://www.bixisystem.com/we_are_bixi/>shows helmets on some people. I didn't really see helmets anywhere else on
> the website -- also not in the photos from the launch. I am not sure what
> message BIXI is trying to create with that image. The obstacles regarding
> public bikes where there are mandatory helmet laws are well known to us all.
>
> <http://www.bixisystem.com/bixi_system/><http://www.bixisystem.com/bixi_system/>shows what looks like a fast residential street with no separate or even
> marked infrastructure for cyclists. In fact, it seems that in the process of
> parking a bike one could have issues with cars or other vehicles in the
> right lane. With this comment I am not arguing for any solution in
> particular but it would be great if cities or people get the suggestion that
> making substantial infrastructure changes on the street is a wonderful idea.
>
> Also, BIXI considers it a positive that its racks and system are
> easy-to-install but I would argue that more permanent-seeming infrastructure
> is better. Whether it is tram tracks and catenary, a built-up BRT corridor
> or planted trees etc. in former car space it indicates a commitment from the
> city and its citizens. Doing something which can be removed just for a pilot
> can be a good idea, of course.
>
> Regards,
> T
>
> Zvi Leve wrote:
>
> Montreal's public bike scheme - Bixi<http://www.bixisystem.com/expertise/>- also has the active involvement of local designers, manufacturers and even
> software developers.
>
>
>  [...]
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------
>
> Todd Edelman
> Green Idea Factory
>
> Urbanstr. 45
> D-10967 Berlin
> Germany
>
> Skype: toddedelman
> Mobile: ++49 0162 814 4081
> Home/Office: ++49 030 7554 0001
> edelman at greenidea.euwww.greenidea.euwww.flickr.com/photos/edelman
>
> CAR is over. If you want it.
>
> "Fort mit der Autostadt und was Neues hingebaut!"
> - B. Brecht (with slight modification)
>
>
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