Comments on: Bike-Share Debuts in Washington D.C. http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/14/bike-share-debuts-in-washington-dc/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/14/bike-share-debuts-in-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1984 John Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:15:17 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1032#comment-1984 The bikes aren't that bad. A bit heavy, but they include a rack, generator lights, chaincase, a three-speed drivetrain, and fenders. The only thing missing is some kind of integrated lock, though it's arguable how effective anything included would be anyway. The two different wheel sizes doesn't make sense, either, for repair and maintenance. A bigger problem is availability. These programs only work if you are always only about 1000 feet from a bike station. I know they're trying to start slow, but how will they know how effective it is unless they deploy it on a scale that makes sense? The bikes aren’t that bad. A bit heavy, but they include a rack, generator lights, chaincase, a three-speed drivetrain, and fenders. The only thing missing is some kind of integrated lock, though it’s arguable how effective anything included would be anyway. The two different wheel sizes doesn’t make sense, either, for repair and maintenance.

A bigger problem is availability. These programs only work if you are always only about 1000 feet from a bike station. I know they’re trying to start slow, but how will they know how effective it is unless they deploy it on a scale that makes sense?

]]> By: Will Campbell http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/14/bike-share-debuts-in-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1981 Will Campbell Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:13:38 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1032#comment-1981 Oh bikeshare will fly here -- about three feet off the ground and crookedly. In fact what I expect is a program called Flexbike will gain a toehold and over the next several years will barely stay alive building up a loyal user base until a company called Zipbike will swallow them up, come in and relocate all the bikes people had come to depend on to DeVry locations in Woodland Hills, Temecula, Baker, and the Salton Sea. I am a bitter, bitter man. PS. I'm totally with MA: those beltway bikes are bogus to behold. Oh bikeshare will fly here — about three feet off the ground and crookedly. In fact what I expect is a program called Flexbike will gain a toehold and over the next several years will barely stay alive building up a loyal user base until a company called Zipbike will swallow them up, come in and relocate all the bikes people had come to depend on to DeVry locations in Woodland Hills, Temecula, Baker, and the Salton Sea.

I am a bitter, bitter man.

PS. I’m totally with MA: those beltway bikes are bogus to behold.

]]> By: johnny http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/14/bike-share-debuts-in-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1980 johnny Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:12:22 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1032#comment-1980 True what you're saying about cyclists identifying with their ride, Militant. I saw some pretty badass low rider bikes on display myself at the Central Ave. jazz fest a few weeks back. However, i still think a bikeshare program would be useful here, for out of towners and people who don't feel like hauling their bike onto the metro among others. I hope it happens someday. As for the DC bikes, their ironic charm will probably go unappreciated by the K street crowd but they're sure to be a hit with folks in Adams-Morgan. True what you’re saying about cyclists identifying with their ride, Militant. I saw some pretty badass low rider bikes on display myself at the Central Ave. jazz fest a few weeks back. However, i still think a bikeshare program would be useful here, for out of towners and people who don’t feel like hauling their bike onto the metro among others. I hope it happens someday.

As for the DC bikes, their ironic charm will probably go unappreciated by the K street crowd but they’re sure to be a hit with folks in Adams-Morgan.

]]> By: militant angeleno http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/14/bike-share-debuts-in-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1978 militant angeleno Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:47:03 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1032#comment-1978 The Militant isn't sure bikeshares will fly here in Los Angeles; bicycle culture may be a reaction against autocentrism, but in a way it's also an adaptation of it: many cyclists identify with what they ride, through either status, creativity or self-expression. Those DC bikes, personally speaking, look decidedly uncool...heh. The Militant isn’t sure bikeshares will fly here in Los Angeles; bicycle culture may be a reaction against autocentrism, but in a way it’s also an adaptation of it: many cyclists identify with what they ride, through either status, creativity or self-expression. Those DC bikes, personally speaking, look decidedly uncool…heh.

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