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108 Comments
- Metis2be, on 01/17/2008, -2/+49We do, they're called streets. All the walking you want, free! Now included: free continuous change of scenery.
- down4twenty, on 01/17/2008, -4/+43frenchie stole my bike
- Nickerz, on 01/17/2008, -2/+36forget socialism, the morons that designed the system are complete idiots. They compared their idea to a system which had EIGHTY times as many bikes available for FREE instead of paying for it. Who would have thought THAT would flop. Let's charge for it and we'll have 1/80th of the bikes per capita available! BRILLIANT!
- Asrrin29, on 01/17/2008, -4/+25that's funny, because in paris where the bikes are FREE this system is wildly popular and useful, and in Brussels, where you have to PAY to use it, hardly anyone is touching them. Oh, and because of competing advertisers (capitalism ftw!) the systems are not properly integrated like in Paris.
RTFA douchebag - davidleeroth, on 01/17/2008, -7/+28Let's get a free treadmill plan in the US.
- billybibbit, on 01/17/2008, -1/+20what?
- loconet, on 01/17/2008, -1/+16Gee.. I don't know. Maybe because JC Decaux, the sponsor of this project, also runs the buses, metro, etc? I'm not sure how much they want to see people driving bikes for free instead...
- sgtbutterscotch, on 01/17/2008, -0/+13Bicks are the *****.
- inactive, on 01/17/2008, -2/+14I don't think anyone would want to ride in that weather, either.
- apextek, on 01/17/2008, -0/+12did anyone notice that its a rainy day in that pic?
Could it be maybe because its raining?...
I dont know but i think i would take the bus on a cold rainy day, how about you? - Sajentine, on 01/17/2008, -0/+12It flopped because it wasn't free, the article says there was a fee for the first 20 minutes.
- andymadigan, on 01/17/2008, -1/+10Unfortunately in the cities they've had to cut back on protection from noise and air pollution.
- Murdats, on 01/17/2008, -2/+11I love comments like this, it reminds me how the most capitlist country in the world also rates highest on all the quality of life ratings.
oh wait america isnt, its mostly moderate to highly socialist countries that are.
however socialism would not work in america without a shift in cultural attidudes away from the self serving, exploitative nature that it seems permeates it at the moment. - Makaveli604, on 01/17/2008, -1/+9I went to Copenhagen, bike system works fine but needs to be used more. It's more like you STEAL someones bike and they steal someone elses etc.
Worked out fine. :/ - r81984, on 01/17/2008, -0/+8They did this at Purdue University 2 years ago.
They called it the Gold Bike program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CXnzoeJwME
Skip to 3:35
People just destroyed the bikes and they all eventually broke.
A few students got hurt because the brakes would fail and they would run into things. - bmw021, on 01/17/2008, -0/+8I wouldn't want to ride in the rain either.
- capiCrimm, on 01/17/2008, -1/+9pft, not a titanium-alloy baby killing platinum chromed tinted mirror with subwoofer and nitrous rocket powered bike. Anything less and kids will make fun of you.
- Eldorian, on 01/17/2008, -0/+7So, this idiot is basing a flop on 3 whole days of research, one of which is obviously caused by inclement weather.
- slashbot, on 01/17/2008, -0/+6bick?
- inactive, on 01/17/2008, -0/+6i dont think a single picture of a full bike rack at only one given time is a particularly good measure of the programs success, especially since it looks like it is raining, or has recently rained in the pictures.
- riomx, on 01/17/2008, -0/+5Here in Denver, you can get a bike for sometimes as low as $15 on Craigslist. I don't know what kind of economic situation you might be in, but I'd check your city's Craigslist if you don't mind buying a cheap used bike.
- BigJuiceMan, on 01/17/2008, -1/+6they tried this in Portland Oregon (years ago) with the "yellow bikes." People kept stealing them. :(
- kurtergad87, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Actually, _Americans_ (or young drunk kids) steal your bike and you get pissed at them. It's amazing how foreign exchange students convince each other that stealing bikes is a normal occurrence in Copenhagen. I pretty much use my bike for everything, and the only time one got stolen; the thief returned it to the exact same place two days later.
- bethehammer, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Same thing in Austin a few years back - every bike was stolen and repainted
- jkizzle, on 01/17/2008, -1/+5they must not have had a dedicated support staff.
here at u of kentucky we have a ton of campus bikes you can check out for 48 hours or overnight, and each bike is inspected by a trained tech before being re-released. if your bike gets destroyed, you foot the bill and cant graduate or schedule classes until it is paid. - mlvassallo, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Its a take one/leave one pen system. Honestly I wish we had that in my office.. I can never find a ***** pen when I need it.
- phantasyhero, on 01/17/2008, -4/+8I'm surprised it flopped, I thought people would ride the bikes all the time. I mean, bicycles are expensive things, I know I can't afford one myself.
- CheapDigWannbe, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4Some years ago in the Vilnius - the capitol of my country Lithuania, the mayor tried to so a similar thing, it took two days for around 4000 orange bikes to be destroyed or stolen. Yeah... Bunch of asses.
- boran, on 01/17/2008, -0/+4It's quite simple Brussels is a city designed for cars, as when you drive on a bike you are risking your life.
- jkizzle, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3they put out a 100 bike sin lexington, all it costs is $15 a year for a key to the universal lock. the only catch is your bike might not be there when you get back. 80 bikes were returned, and it is being hailed as quite a success. 100 bikes for about 60,000 people that commute into or live in lexington. 80% return rate is pretty damn good, and the program will probably expand next spring when they put the bikes back on the street after winter passes.
the revolution will not be motorized. - jkizzle, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3it actually does. it just takes a few dedicated people, and the proper guidelines and criteria of use. you have to connect someones money to it when they check them out, or else they wont care.
- riomx, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3"A few students got hurt because the brakes would fail and they would run into things."
They should have given those bikes to hipsters. They absolutely *LOVE* bikes without brakes...cause they're like...the coolest trend on the streets. - PabloMac, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3It's fun with disc brakes.
- christophelyon, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3The fact is, JC Decaux does the minimum to reach the contracts terms. The city of Bruxelles has simply not made a contract that is strict enough, contrary to other cities who have also chosen the same system by JC Decaux, like Lyon and Paris...
- rodrigo74, on 01/17/2008, -1/+4Not really, it rains much more in Brussels: 850mm yearly in Brussels, 630mm in Paris.
- SirMolle, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3Politicians let Big Business get ahold of the project so now theres a 20 minute CHARGE?
no wonder no one is using it like the other projects - Baltoche, on 01/17/2008, -0/+3It works in Paris because their is one bike station every 300 meters, in Brussels i only saw one or two
- Campog, on 01/17/2008, -3/+6Never mind, I just got the "ONOZ YOU BORKED THE COMMENTS" message or whatever it says.
- lohphat, on 01/17/2008, -4/+6Copenhagen has a free bick system and if I recall works fine.
- OgniAsuob, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2Part of the reason appears to be the lack of commitment on the part of Brussels and JC Decaux (the advertiser and sponsor). There are very few (20) stations set up around town. There are also very few bikes provided: 250 for a million inhabitants, compared with 20,000 bicycles for two million Parisians. There is no link or co-operation with the 19 suburban areas because they have their own system set up with a competing advertiser, Clear Channel.
So, THAT's the answer: ***** Planning. And don't even think about doing something in "The States". It would only work if you'd offer bicycles with a V8 engine and a gun rack. - christophelyon, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2In these system by JC Decaux, you can't steal the bikes easily. First, they are highly recognizable, and tracked by GPS/RFID. Plus, to get one, you need to provide your credit card, or open an account if you prefer, and your ID is checked.
Of course, you could still steal one of these bikes from someone who is using it. But what would be the point ? There are plenty of regular bikes that are easier to steal and much easier to sell... - peaceninja, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3i remember they tried to do that in charleston, SC...yeah all the bikes were taken
- loconet, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2You do know that Paris is only a couple of hours away and they get similar weather?
- jkizzle, on 01/17/2008, -1/+3if you are 4 years old. a new bike with trustworthy components is well over a hundred or two. i dont think i would buy a new bike that cost less than 400, i just wouldnt trust the workmanship. used bikes on the other hand can be a great deal as long as you know how to fix or inspect them.
- rainierbeer, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2great comment riomx. but, you think you have it bad with fixies in denver? come to portland sometime, it's a nightmare.
- Murdats, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2I think the point of it is not that bikes are expensive, but that if, say you went shopping in the city, would you want to drag your bike around, what if you started from one end and worked your way to the other, would you want to walk back to your bike, or have another one there waiting for you.
what if you caught a lift somewhere and wanted to leave early or late, your could ride home (or at least to the train station) - dannybull, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2I know of couple cities in America that this would be cool for. Until a tort lawyer rode one.
- brufleth, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2People in the US are just too likely to take them. Too bad too because a system like this would be nice for a small old city like Charleston or Boston. The road systems are old and riding a bike can be as fast as driving inside the city.
- cl2yp71c, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2/sarcasm?
- WikiEasy, on 01/17/2008, -0/+2We should have such a system in the states. All those middle-aged fat asses would have one less excuse to be so darn corpulent.
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