Dear Group, Of course I am not "in the know" about the history of bicycle issues in the greater Madison area. Maybe this idea has been advocated already for years and by many. Also, maybe this "European" idea IS used in certain American cities---somewhere?
A week ago on the PBS "GlobeTrecker" travelogue, Copenhagen municipal bike rentals were shown and it was told how these uniform rental bikes were available everywhere around the city--just waiting for someone to unlock with a coin of some denomination. They told how their enthusiastic use had cut automobile traffic to a trickle. It appeared the uniform and adjustable bikes were unlocked like "some shopping carts" at discount groceries. Certainly such an endeavor would not be without problems of theft and destruction---but it would seem that these days sensors could be put in the bikes so they could be recovered. I know it is out of keeping for a "government hating libertarian" (and to one in your group--a troll) to suggest something like this----but such could be investigated and all the costs estimated, based on some model where this is now being done--either in Europe or the USA. This would also be a method to spread the idea of private ownership of bicycles. The rental models would not satisfy enthusiasts with money and a newly developed bike interest. But such a plan would legitimize bike travel more than bicycle "charity" schemes made up of recycled old discarded bikes. Such "recycled" bikes would have the stigma of a "bread-line" bike. These municipal bikes could be advertised on TV and made into--"the thing to do." These bicycles would be identical, strong, and serviced. They could also fit on racks attached to buses. They could be rented at one rack and returned to some distant rack. One of the problems with bicycles today is their appearance to "non-bikers" as elitist, costing big money with special gear. Few reading these words in this go-around are riding a fifty dollar "Huffy?" But in Europe, the bicycle tradition is classless. Such a municipal bike rental could be tied to the Madison Bus lines with some clever political action--something this GROUP seems well versed in? Eric Westhagen _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
