Hey cyclists ... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Xerxys · 03-18-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

4:46 PM (1 hour ago)
New Bike Share System by RAFAA (CH)

from Dailytonic by noras31 people liked this

New Bike Share System in Copenhagen by RAFAA

The Zurich based architect and designer Rafael Schmidt submitted this new bike sharing system to a competition which was organised within last year’s International Climate Conference in Copenhagen. The system involves a comprehensive architectural intervention into the urban centre.

New Bike Share System in Copenhagen by RAFAA

“The Bike Share System must become more than just a transporting system. It deals not only with the problem of stocks and flows of people, but must add extra value to its user and to the city itself. We suggest that the Bike Share System becomes an integral part of the city. The bicycles should function as censors and inform the system about certain behaviours, so that the system can react according to the situation.To predict the performance of a system, the entities have to exchange information. An internet-based platform can analyse the different interests and could then manage possible conflicts. The bicycles are equipped with GPS und W-Lan, so they are connected to each order and can inform the system about their position and status. (Is a bike being used? Where is the bike and where is it moving to? Is there a reservation for the bike? etc.) Privacy protection is a matter that has to be taken into account in the process. To increase the number of commuters travelling by bicycle from 37% to 50% by 2015, approx. 25.000 bicycles have to be integrated into the urban fabric; these bikes will need at least 20.000 m2 of storage space. We see a high risk of overloading the squares, streets and stations of Copenhagen. Therefore, our focus is to reduce the „visual pollution“ wherever possible. At the same time, easy accessibility as well as the system’s visual presence has to be maintained (hide & show policy). The following proposal distinguishes between three different trajectory scales: S,M and L.”

New Bike Share System in Copenhagen by RAFAA

New Bike Share System in Copenhagen by RAFAA

more information about the project

Wouldn't this be fun?

genuinegirly · 03-18-2010, 02:43 PM

Fun for tourists. I think I'd much rather have my own bike for daily use, though.

Martian · 03-18-2010, 03:28 PM

I don't know if it's a common thing around the world, but in Toronto there's a car sharing program (2, actually) that allows you to take a car when you need it for a nominal fee. Similar idea, in other words, but with cars or vans instead of bicycles.

I don't see this working as well for bikes, though. A fully serviceable bike can be had for less than $200 with all the necessities (helmet, bell/horn, lights), and maintenance is dirt cheap. Given the cost of ownership, it'd have to cost next to nothing to rent one in order for this to be competitive.

Baraka_Guru · 03-18-2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martian

I don't see this working as well for bikes, though. A fully serviceable bike can be had for less than $200 with all the necessities (helmet, bell/horn, lights), and maintenance is dirt cheap. Given the cost of ownership, it'd have to cost next to nothing to rent one in order for this to be competitive.

From the link above:

Quote:

How to use a bike?

To use a bike, you have to register in the internet or insert a credit or Maestro card into the bike’s handle bar and log in (see 1). The first 30 minutes are free; after that, 5 DKK per 30 minutes will be charged. The fee per hour rises proportionally so that the bikes stay in circulation. There are stations everywhere in Copenhagen’s city centre (max. distance 300 metres). At all times, you can find out in the internet how many bikes are available at which stations. Commuters will be able to profit from a text message service informing them about available bikes. Train passengers will have the possibility to make a reservation 30 minutes in advance. By using the Bike Share System, you will get credit for other public transportation or discounts for various cultural events.

5 DKK is about $1, so it's a free 30 minutes and then $1 per 30 minutes thereafter, with it increasing to "encourage" you to share and share alike.

I can't see it taking much more than an hour to get somewhere.

Martian · 03-18-2010, 03:42 PM

I missed that bit. If it's free, bikes are widely available and it saves money on public transit, then my above point is completely invalid.

Train commuters would be fools not to use this system.

Xerxys · 03-19-2010, 06:50 AM

^^ True. Whilst in Europe I used the train to travel to places longer than 30 mins at a time. Maybe even 45. The train ticket at the time was 2.~~ Euros which came to slightly over $2.50US so I could have benefited from this immensely had I taken and kept a bike for the whole day.

genuinegirly · 03-19-2010, 07:44 AM

Ah, but you wouldn't need to keep it all day. You could borrow one to get from points A-> B, then put it back on the rack at point B. You could then do your business at point B, not pay for the time that you're at point B, then borrow a different one to travel from points B->C. If the distance between points A->B are traversed within a half hour, you've just made use of a free bike. The same goes for your route from points B->C.

BadNick · 03-19-2010, 08:06 AM

I really like the "borrow the bike and then leave it for the next person" idea. If you go somewhere via public transportation it might be less practical to take your bike than to just borrow one when you get there, although bike storage on buses and trains is common around here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martian

I don't know if it's a common thing around the world, but in Toronto there's a car sharing program...

sorry for this quick OT reply: they have it here and I see quite a few driving around with their markings PhillyCarShare | Philadelphia's local nonprofit car sharing solution

girldetective · 03-19-2010, 08:15 AM

In PDX weve had orange bikes for a few years. They are around town here and there to use freely. The problem has been that you never know where you might find one as people seem to just leave them off wherever they are.

PS: We also have an outdoor mall that has community umbrellas.

The_Jazz · 03-19-2010, 08:31 AM

There are bike shares opening in Arlington, VA (quickly followed by DC) and Minneapolis in the next 30 days. I'm intimately familiar with both.

AquaFox · 03-19-2010, 05:23 PM

i can see it now, walking to the bike place and finding they are all out of bikes, then being an hour late for work.. i would go for a foldable and portable bike instead :-)

ASU2003 · 03-19-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genuinegirly

Ah, but you wouldn't need to keep it all day. You could borrow one to get from points A-> B, then put it back on the rack at point B. You could then do your business at point B, not pay for the time that you're at point B, then borrow a different one to travel from points B->C. If the distance between points A->B are traversed within a half hour, you've just made use of a free bike. The same goes for your route from points B->C.

They have this system in Paris, but I'm still wondering if I need to bring it back to point A for my rental to be considered done.

Montpelier had a much better system. It was 1 euro for 4 hours and 2 euros for 8 hours.

I think this would work better with a stationary terminal for payment (like they have in Paris) Although they need to have it accept foreign credit cards...

And they need to work with the hotels, since the hotels could just add it to visitors bills, and they know that they will probably ride them back there at the end of the day. They can also have helmets for them to use. And the hotel staff can help you figure out how to rent them and have a few of the RFID cards that locals may need to wait to get in the mail.

Then again, you may find that 30 minutes is all you can take before you realize you value your life too much to ride in Paris or London with their traffic. And without a place to put a GPS device (or to have one built in), it would be really hard to know if you are going the right way. And then you have the problem of finding places to lock your bike up at your destinations.

03-18-2010, 02:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Fun for tourists. I think I'd much rather have my own bike for daily use, though. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

03-18-2010, 03:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	I don't know if it's a common thing around the world, but in Toronto there's a car sharing program (2, actually) that allows you to take a car when you need it for a nominal fee. Similar idea, in other words, but with cars or vans instead of bicycles. I don't see this working as well for bikes, though. A fully serviceable bike can be had for less than $200 with all the necessities (helmet, bell/horn, lights), and maintenance is dirt cheap. Given the cost of ownership, it'd have to cost next to nothing to rent one in order for this to be competitive. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

03-18-2010, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	I missed that bit. If it's free, bikes are widely available and it saves money on public transit, then my above point is completely invalid. Train commuters would be fools not to use this system. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

03-19-2010, 07:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Ah, but you wouldn't need to keep it all day. You could borrow one to get from points A-> B, then put it back on the rack at point B. You could then do your business at point B, not pay for the time that you're at point B, then borrow a different one to travel from points B->C. If the distance between points A->B are traversed within a half hour, you've just made use of a free bike. The same goes for your route from points B->C. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

03-19-2010, 08:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
girldetective sufferable	In PDX weve had orange bikes for a few years. They are around town here and there to use freely. The problem has been that you never know where you might find one as people seem to just leave them off wherever they are. PS: We also have an outdoor mall that has community umbrellas. __________________ As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons...be cheerful; strive for happiness - Desiderata

03-19-2010, 06:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	^^ True. Whilst in Europe I used the train to travel to places longer than 30 mins at a time. Maybe even 45. The train ticket at the time was 2.~~ Euros which came to slightly over $2.50US so I could have benefited from this immensely had I taken and kept a bike for the whole day.

03-19-2010, 08:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	There are bike shares opening in Arlington, VA (quickly followed by DC) and Minneapolis in the next 30 days. I'm intimately familiar with both. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

03-19-2010, 05:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	i can see it now, walking to the bike place and finding they are all out of bikes, then being an hour late for work.. i would go for a foldable and portable bike instead :-) __________________ ...AquaFox...