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I think there's a tendency among many Americans (if I may) to believe that a robust urban bike sharing system is just somehow, for some reason, impossible.
I catch myself thinking it sometimes. Maybe part of the trouble is that non-bicycle-users don't get the point, and bicycle-users already have bikes — and so they don't get the point, either. What's required is seeing bicycling as a potential mainstream mode of transportation: so easy and convenient, little old ladies'll do it.
The thing is, that's not crazy: It's already going on all over the world, and lots of cities (Paris, Barcelona, Montreal, to name a few) have implemented robust, working bike share systems.
Why not Philly? So asks Bike Share Philadelphia, a "network of organizations and individuals working to bring public use bicycles, also called bike sharing, to Philadelphia."
Bike Share Philadelphia is advocating a model of bike sharing called B-Cycle, currently being used in Denver and being piloted this summer in my hometown of Chicago (a city which, for the record, remade itself into an American bicycling capital in about 10 years — tragically, beginning more or less when I left for 10 years).
They'll be holding demos:
Thursday, August 26th at 36th & Walnut Streets, 10 AM to 6 PM, in front of the Penn Bookstore in University City in cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania.
Friday August 27th at JFK Plaza (Love Park) - 15th & JFK Blvd, 10 AM to 6 PM, in cooperation with the Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities.
Saturday, August 28th at Penn's Landing on the Walnut Plaza, 10 AM to 6 PM, in cooperation with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation..
Here's how the group describes the plan:
In Philadelphia, bicycles would be placed in secure stations throughout the city. To use these bikes, individuals could sign up online in advance, or at a station kiosk. For a nominal access fee, either on a daily, weekly or yearly basis, the bikes are available for the first 30 minutes of use at no charge. There would be a small fee for each additional ½ hour. The bikes could be returned to any station throughout the city, making it true point-to-point transportation. With stations located no more than about three blocks from each other, bike sharing gives new meaning to convenience.
Do we need a picture of what this looks like elsewhere? We do. Here's bike sharing in Paris:
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Philadelphia Bike Share Concept Study - Delaware Valley Planning Commission, |
Isaiah Thompson, Thank you for your great posting on Bike Share Philadelphia's bike-sharing demonstrations at Penn, Love Park and Penn's Landing this week. You are so right that bike sharing does take bicycling into a mainstream mode of transportation. Please let me clarify that Bike Share Philadelphia is advocating that Philadelphia adopt a self-service bike share program as soon as it is possible. We do not necessarily advocate a particular company or model for our city's program. Last year, we sponsored a similar demonstration of the Public Bike System Company's model which is currently in use in Montréal, Minneapolis and London. Until Philadelphia adopts a system through a competitive bidding process, we will continue to bring different models of programs and hold demonstrations as a way to further the process along.
I love that fact that they are doing the bike sharing, but I get my bike from 2whellbikes.com
I aggree with Dean. I got a bike from 2wheelbikes, and it has been the best online shopping experience I have had to date. Their service was fast, and inexpensive. Check them out. http://www.2wheelbikes.com/
Wow, that's cool. I would hate to share my bike though. I love my bike. http://www.2wheelbikes.com/bicycle-beach-cruisers/panther-7sp-f-beach-cruiser.html
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