Comments on: City’s First Bike Share Planned for Governors Island http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:19:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Clarence Darrow http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42177 Clarence Darrow Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:59:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42177 Gee...how do you spell "liability"? Yet another boner of an idea, if you ask me! Gee...how do you spell "liability"? Yet another boner of an idea, if you ask me!

]]> By: JW http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42158 JW Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:06:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42158 I'm not sure getting free dutch bikes is a fair trade for also having to get hideous dutch architecture. I'm not sure getting free dutch bikes is a fair trade for also having to get hideous dutch architecture.

]]> By: glennQ http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42121 glennQ Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:49:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42121 Comment by ln: "Whats with the wooden bikes?" X2! I can't imagine a wood frame being as durable (or as inexpensive) as a traditional steel double-triangle frame. There is a reason the design is so popular... glennQ Comment by ln: "Whats with the wooden bikes?"

X2!
I can't imagine a wood frame being as durable (or as inexpensive) as a traditional steel double-triangle frame. There is a reason the design is so popular...

glennQ

]]> By: mfs http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42102 mfs Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:59:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42102 I think this will work on Gov' Island for sure. They had this program in Charlottesville, VA a couple years back and all of the bikes were stolen, despite their completely obvious appearance as the town bicycle (insert yo' mama joke here). Also, look out for a series of half-baked, announcements regarding major developments that represent a small procedure step like this as Doctoroff gets ready to bolt. My predictions: Brooklyn Bridge Park, East River waterfront on LES, and Queens West I think this will work on Gov' Island for sure. They had this program in Charlottesville, VA a couple years back and all of the bikes were stolen, despite their completely obvious appearance as the town bicycle (insert yo' mama joke here).

Also, look out for a series of half-baked, announcements regarding major developments that represent a small procedure step like this as Doctoroff gets ready to bolt. My predictions: Brooklyn Bridge Park, East River waterfront on LES, and Queens West

]]> By: ln http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42088 ln Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:25:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42088 The first bike sharing I saw was in Berlin, the very distinctive bikes, you could spot them anywhere, were locked all over the city. You were supposed to call a number with your credit card, and they would give you the unlocking code. I was in Berlin the first week that this started, maybe 10 years ago. This was after the wall was down, but still, how did one get stolen all the way to the west coast of the US? Two weeks later I saw one locked up outside a cafe in Seattle. Whats with the wooden bikes? Those will last a few months only in NYC weather. The first bike sharing I saw was in Berlin, the very distinctive bikes, you could spot them anywhere, were locked all over the city. You were supposed to call a number with your credit card, and they would give you the unlocking code. I was in Berlin the first week that this started, maybe 10 years ago.

This was after the wall was down, but still, how did one get stolen all the way to the west coast of the US? Two weeks later I saw one locked up outside a cafe in Seattle.

Whats with the wooden bikes? Those will last a few months only in NYC weather.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42084 Jonathan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:08:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42084 bicyclesonly, I believe that the big obstacle to municipal bike-share is the liability issue. People love to sue the city for anything, witness <a href="http://snipr.com/tripsnfalls" rel="nofollow">this gem from 2002</a>:<blockquote>In Fiscal Year 2002 approximately $53MM of the $546MM paid out in settlements and judgments are related to trip and fall cases. That amount is based on 2,652 total settlements and judgments of which 1,410 settlements, more than half, were negotiated by [the city Controller's] office.</blockquote>Fifty-three million bucks pays for a lot of bicycles, and that's only the cost from broken (yet motionless) sidewalks. Imagine how much accidents involving <i>moving</i> bicycles might cost the city. bicyclesonly, I believe that the big obstacle to municipal bike-share is the liability issue. People love to sue the city for anything, witness this gem from 2002:
In Fiscal Year 2002 approximately $53MM of the $546MM paid out in settlements and judgments are related to trip and fall cases. That amount is based on 2,652 total settlements and judgments of which 1,410 settlements, more than half, were negotiated by [the city Controller's] office.

Fifty-three million bucks pays for a lot of bicycles, and that's only the cost from broken (yet motionless) sidewalks. Imagine how much accidents involving moving bicycles might cost the city.

]]> By: BicyclesOnly http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42080 BicyclesOnly Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:37:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42080 Bill's right, it's a little like the 3,000 bike rack installed along the 7 blocks of cycle track on 9th Ave. But I actually see a ray of hope in the Bloomberg wisecrack, because I think theft and vandalism is probably the #1 concern with brining velib to New York. I take Bloomberg's comment as evidence that velib has been seriously considered at top levels of city government. And if that is the key obstacle to an NYC velib, I think it can definitely be addressed--through a hefty credit card deposit required for velib users and/or gps tracking technology embedded in the bikes. I am looking forward to visiting Govorner's Island with the new West 8 redesign (though I probably won't use the velib there much because they let you cut to front of the line on the ferry if you have your bike with you!). Bill's right, it's a little like the 3,000 bike rack installed along the 7 blocks of cycle track on 9th Ave. But I actually see a ray of hope in the Bloomberg wisecrack, because I think theft and vandalism is probably the #1 concern with brining velib to New York. I take Bloomberg's comment as evidence that velib has been seriously considered at top levels of city government. And if that is the key obstacle to an NYC velib, I think it can definitely be addressed--through a hefty credit card deposit required for velib users and/or gps tracking technology embedded in the bikes.

I am looking forward to visiting Govorner's Island with the new West 8 redesign (though I probably won't use the velib there much because they let you cut to front of the line on the ferry if you have your bike with you!).

]]> By: Bill http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/comment-page-1/#comment-42077 Bill Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:06:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/20/citys-first-bike-share-planned-for-governors-island/#comment-42077 Good idea, but 3000 bikes on such a small piece of land is a bit much. Good idea, but 3000 bikes on such a small piece of land is a bit much.

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