Eric. I've been there. They are basically for tourists and have made no dent in the auto traffic. They are mostly taken by early morning. The dent in auto traffic is by the daily bike commuters who own their own bikes and by the excellent infrastrucuture for bikes. The commuters dress like normal commuters - long dresses, suits, etc. No bikie apparrel. For the first time in my biking life I had to constantly worry about bikes behind me and not cars.
And the coin is a 5 kroner. worth considerbly more than any of our coins. When you return the bike to any stall you get your coin back. This mean that if a bike is abandoned anyone can return it for 5 kroner. Thus no abandoned "red" bikes. All of the bikes have advertising on them. Mike Rewey ---- Eric Westhagen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
