Robbie, I agree with everything you said. Although it is true that there is not a uniformity among bike sharing companies across the country, B-Cycle actually has a presence in several cities (Denver and Chicago are among them); so if there was at least reciprocity among B-Cycle programs in different cities that would be a good start. B-Cycle does say that they are planning on having reciprocity in the future, but have not committed to any time frame.
-india On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 11:25 AM, Robbie Webber <[email protected]>wrote: > [Started writing this before everyone else responded, then got distracted > by "work."] > > Yes, agreed. Car sharing programs offer reciprocity, even if they are not > the same company. A Community Car membership here in Madison allows you to > use ZipCar in other cities. > > In the case of Denver, it is the same system. However each bike-sharing > service - i.e. each city's service - is operated by a different entity. > Sometimes it's a non-profit, sometimes a for-profit, sometimes the city or > county. So the system (hardware) may be the same, but it's actually a > completely different service. > > I have spoken with other bike-sharing operators about reciprocity. I think > "they're working on it." Most know that reciprocity would be ideal, and > would build the general brand or idea of bike sharing. But the services are > so new that most operators are still working out the kinks. > > I also think having courtesy cards at hotels would be great. Maybe > something to mention to hotels here, or when you are traveling. Many > upper-end hotels have a shuttle service or concierge, and even > complimentary access to local health clubs, so this wouldn't be that far > out of the ballpark. They probably just haven't thought of it. > > However, most bike-sharing programs have short-term memberships. When I > was in DC (that's where I have used the system most extensively), I bought > a 3-day membership for $15. Used the bikes a lot. $15 is a bargain for > transportation in DC, where even a single Metro ride can run you $3-4 > during peak time. Having a Capital BikeShare membership completely > transformed the way I got around DC. It is the perfect option for the "to > far to walk (or I'm late or tired), and too close to take the Metro" trip. > Every service I've ever seen has a 1-day option, so you don't have to make > a huge commitment to use the service in another city. > > > Robbie Webber > Transportation Policy Analyst > State Smart Transportation Initiative > www.ssti.us > 608-263-9984 (o) > [email protected] > > > > On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 9:45 AM, Diane <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I will be traveling to Denver for a week for a convention. I asked about >> using a Madison pass in Denver but was told at this point there is no >> reciprocity. It will be great if this pass could be used at other >> locations in the US as this is where I would utilize it. At this point, it >> is still a fantasy "in the works". >> >> Diane >> >> >> On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 9:34 AM, Robbie Webber wrote: >> >> There is again a special on the annual membership (normally $65.) >> Living Social - another discount site - has the annual membership for the >> next 2 days. >> * >> http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership >> *<http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership><http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership> >> >> >> <http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership> >> If you aren't personally interested, think about someone at work that >> car/van-pools, takes the bus, or even drives to work and might like to have >> access to a bike during the day. If I lived in Dodgeville and took the >> state ride-share service to the GEF bldgs or campus, I'd want a bike during >> the day to do errands or have lunch. >> <http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership> >> >> >> <http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership> >> I'm not sure what kind of marketing B Cycle is doing to these folks, but >> in DC, and probably other large cities, that seems to be a pretty big >> market: People that own bikes, but don't bike to work, instead taking the >> Metro/transit. They want a bike in the city, but don't want to have to >> store one at work. >> <http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership> >> >> >> <http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/154-madison/deals/281322-one-year-bike-share-membership> >> >> Robbie Webber >> Transportation Policy Analyst >> State Smart Transportation Initiative >> *www.ssti.us* <http://www.ssti.us> >> *608-263-9984*(o) >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikies mailing list >> *[email protected]* >> *http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org*<http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org> >> <http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > -- WeAreAllMechanics.com [email protected] Stay connected- Follow WAAM on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics>
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