Whatever your views on bicycle hire, or bike sharing schemes (BSS) it is always useful to have comparative data when considering the benefits (or problems) with such services.
The recently launched OBIS handbook (Optimising Bike Sharing in European Cities) presents interesting facts and figures from bike sharing
schemes in ten European countries - Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
The handbook describes bike share scheme characteristics such as
technology, scheme size, service design etc in relation to a range external city factors.
Not surprisingly, given the title, the handbook authors have a supportive attitude towards bike sharing schemes.
There is even a handy section entitled "Arguments You’ll Have to Deal With" (page 14) which lists 7 arguments (and responses) which the authors argue are commonly raised when discussing bike share schemes. These include:
- The city already has a high cycling modal share; people have their own bikes.
- BSSs are expensive.
- The city is too small and does not have enough funding options.
- A BSS will compete with local bike rental companies.
- The city does not even have proper cycling infrastructure. The BSS a) will compete for funding and b) nobody will use the BSS due to the lack of infrastructure.
- Cycling is dangerous; a BSS will increase the number of accidents
- All the trips will be one-way; there will be a distribution problem
For any local authorities or organsiations considering introducing such schemes, the handbook also provides comprehensive advice for the three stages in the lifetime of a Bike Sharing Scheme:
Planning, Implementation, Optimisation.
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