Comments on: Governors Island to Serve as Testing Ground for NYC Bike-Share http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Ellen http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51487 Ellen Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:50:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51487 We (GIPEC)actually went back and forth about "bike share" ourselves quite a bit. Our goal is simply this: get people on bikes for free. Part of our strategy to bring Governors Island back to life is to get people out here to experience the Island right now. Since biking is one of the best ways to see Governors Island, we wanted to make sure that everyone has the chance to enjoy biking our car-free roads and see the amazing views. Also, we see Free Bike Fridays as a step toward the vision of free bikes for all in Governors Island's future park and Great Promenade. These public bikes aren’t just the best way to explore the Island now, but they’ll also be an important part of the experience the new park and Great Promenade that West 8 and its team will begin design on later this year (with lots of input from you all, I hope). We know that this isn’t Velib, but we doubted many people had ever heard of the witfiets of Hogue Veluwe, which is the bike share program we hope to model ourselves on in the future. I actually met with JC Decaux in Paris last year when we were looking at all the ways to get the public on bikes for free and got a full tour of Velib. We decided that a low-tech approach was better for us right now, and we’re excited that Transportation Alternatives is making this happen for free on Fridays and that Bike and Roll is renting on the other days. I hope you get a chance to come out and see for yourselves. We (GIPEC)actually went back and forth about "bike share" ourselves quite a bit. Our goal is simply this: get people on bikes for free. Part of our strategy to bring Governors Island back to life is to get people out here to experience the Island right now. Since biking is one of the best ways to see Governors Island, we wanted to make sure that everyone has the chance to enjoy biking our car-free roads and see the amazing views.

Also, we see Free Bike Fridays as a step toward the vision of free bikes for all in Governors Island's future park and Great Promenade. These public bikes aren’t just the best way to explore the Island now, but they’ll also be an important part of the experience the new park and Great Promenade that West 8 and its team will begin design on later this year (with lots of input from you all, I hope).

We know that this isn’t Velib, but we doubted many people had ever heard of the witfiets of Hogue Veluwe, which is the bike share program we hope to model ourselves on in the future. I actually met with JC Decaux in Paris last year when we were looking at all the ways to get the public on bikes for free and got a full tour of Velib. We decided that a low-tech approach was better for us right now, and we’re excited that Transportation Alternatives is making this happen for free on Fridays and that Bike and Roll is renting on the other days. I hope you get a chance to come out and see for yourselves.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51458 gecko Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:26:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51458 Perrrrfectly nice indeed! Perrrrfectly nice indeed!

]]> By: C$ http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51453 C$ Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:43:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51453 Why is everyone hatin? This is a good thing people. Even "Huffy-like-bikes" will start to change the not- in-my-city bike culture. Why is everyone hatin?
This is a good thing people. Even "Huffy-like-bikes" will start to change the not- in-my-city bike culture.

]]> By: Margo http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51452 Margo Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:06:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51452 I wonder how this will compare to the NYU bike share... I wonder how this will compare to the NYU bike share...

]]> By: JRV http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51441 JRV Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:34:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51441 Satisfaction? Turn down the hype and just call things what they are. A bike rental kiosk on Governor's Island is a perfectly nice idea. Satisfaction? Turn down the hype and just call things what they are. A bike rental kiosk on Governor's Island is a perfectly nice idea.

]]> By: Stacy http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51430 Stacy Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:29:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51430 "Are people going to smuggle them off Governor's Island on the ferry under their clothes or something?" Is that a challenge? "Are people going to smuggle them off Governor's Island on the ferry under their clothes or something?"

Is that a challenge?

]]> By: Josh http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51415 Josh Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:00:57 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51415 "Somehow I wonder if maybe, like Amstel, they're not expecting too many of these bikes to get returned." Are people going to smuggle them off Governor's Island on the ferry under their clothes or something? "Somehow I wonder if maybe, like Amstel, they're not expecting too many of these bikes to get returned."

Are people going to smuggle them off Governor's Island on the ferry under their clothes or something?

]]> By: Stacy http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51392 Stacy Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:23:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51392 These bikes bear a strange resemblance to the free bikes given away by Amstel Light Beer last month. Somehow I wonder if maybe, like Amstel, they're not expecting too many of these bikes to get returned. These bikes bear a strange resemblance to the free bikes given away by Amstel Light Beer last month.

Somehow I wonder if maybe, like Amstel, they're not expecting too many of these bikes to get returned.

]]> By: Jan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51389 Jan Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:03:14 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51389 Will anything ever satisfy? Jeez. Will anything ever satisfy? Jeez.

]]> By: JRV http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51386 JRV Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:24:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51386 "Bike-sharing is for regular use within a city by residents of that city, as an alternate form of transportation." Exactly, that's why this is not a "bike share" and is a tourist rental. Governor's Island is not "within a city." It's an island off the street grid with limited access via ferry. It has no industry, a handful of residents and a bunch of people employed figuring out what to do with it and how to keep it from falling apart. This is glorified bike rental for tourists (local or foreign) visiting the island --- a very small car-free island that used to be a haven for people to stroll around, unmolested by people on wheels. To even mention Velibe in the same breath is laughable. Velibe is public mass transit in the heart of a major city. This is tourist bike rental. It is has no utilitarian purpose and will replace walking trips only, since there are no cars or buses or anything else except lawnmowers. "Bike-sharing is for regular use within a city by residents of that city, as an alternate form of transportation." Exactly, that's why this is not a "bike share" and is a tourist rental. Governor's Island is not "within a city." It's an island off the street grid with limited access via ferry. It has no industry, a handful of residents and a bunch of people employed figuring out what to do with it and how to keep it from falling apart. This is glorified bike rental for tourists (local or foreign) visiting the island --- a very small car-free island that used to be a haven for people to stroll around, unmolested by people on wheels. To even mention Velibe in the same breath is laughable. Velibe is public mass transit in the heart of a major city. This is tourist bike rental. It is has no utilitarian purpose and will replace walking trips only, since there are no cars or buses or anything else except lawnmowers.

]]> By: AM http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51382 AM Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:42:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51382 @evbart - You might want to verify the 400,000 parking space reduction. I think that was an April Fool's posting! @evbart - You might want to verify the 400,000 parking space reduction. I think that was an April Fool's posting!

]]> By: neb http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51381 neb Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:39:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51381 As a Washingtonian, I would love to see a bike share program so that I could use a bike when up in NYC. (Of course, we're still waiting for the program here to actually start - first March, then April, May, now June.) As a Washingtonian, I would love to see a bike share program so that I could use a bike when up in NYC. (Of course, we're still waiting for the program here to actually start - first March, then April, May, now June.)

]]> By: evbart http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51374 evbart Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:07:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51374 @JRV - This isn't bike renting, nor are these designer bikes, it's bike-sharing. Bike Rentals are for tourists looking to visit and take a ride. Bike-sharing is for regular use within a city by residents of that city, as an alternate form of transportation. If you want to learn more about what they did in paris, look it up, its called Velib ( http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/10/more-bike-sharing-photos-from-paris/ ) Hopefully NYC won't present a low budget, small scale version of this as a proof of concept that it won't work here in NYC. Its going to take a lot of commitment ( as this article points out, they are going to remove 400,000 parking spaces! http://bike-sharing.blogspot.com/2008/04/paris-becomes-new-bike-capital-of.html ) Now thats commitment to livable usable bike friendly streets. @JRV - This isn't bike renting, nor are these designer bikes, it's bike-sharing. Bike Rentals are for tourists looking to visit and take a ride. Bike-sharing is for regular use within a city by residents of that city, as an alternate form of transportation.

If you want to learn more about what they did in paris, look it up, its called Velib ( http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/10/more-bike-sharing-photos-from-paris/ )

Hopefully NYC won't present a low budget, small scale version of this as a proof of concept that it won't work here in NYC. Its going to take a lot of commitment ( as this article points out, they are going to remove 400,000 parking spaces! http://bike-sharing.blogspot.com/2008/04/paris-becomes-new-bike-capital-of.html )

Now thats commitment to livable usable bike friendly streets.

]]> By: chandru http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51368 chandru Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:45:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51368 Oh, glad they spent money on the important stuff---like registering the trademark Bike and Roll! Oh, glad they spent money on the important stuff---like registering the trademark Bike and Roll!

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51366 Angus Grieve-Smith Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:32:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51366 You missed the best part of the press release: <blockquote>Bike and Roll™ will also rent four-person bike <b>surreys</b></blockquote> As soon as my back heals, I am <i>so</i> rounding up three friends to head over there! You missed the best part of the press release:

Bike and Roll™ will also rent four-person bike surreys

As soon as my back heals, I am so rounding up three friends to head over there!

]]> By: JRV http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51365 JRV Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:31:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51365 What's actually being demonstrated here? Renting designer bikes to tourists on car-free Governor's Island will be popular. So what? How is this practically different than the bike rental that's been in Central Park since forever? This is hype. What's actually being demonstrated here? Renting designer bikes to tourists on car-free Governor's Island will be popular. So what? How is this practically different than the bike rental that's been in Central Park since forever? This is hype.

]]> By: evbart http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51362 evbart Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:24:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51362 These look like the 87$ huffy walmart special. Don't think thats the right attitude to take with a bike sharing program. In Paris they went upscale, which I think makes it more popular, and people respect the bikes more. I also agree that doing it on Gov Island is a bit of a cop out. They need to be in the city and visible to both motorists and pedestrians as the much more efficient, convenient, and cheap alternative form of Transportation. These look like the 87$ huffy walmart special. Don't think thats the right attitude to take with a bike sharing program. In Paris they went upscale, which I think makes it more popular, and people respect the bikes more.

I also agree that doing it on Gov Island is a bit of a cop out. They need to be in the city and visible to both motorists and pedestrians as the much more efficient, convenient, and cheap alternative form of Transportation.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51361 gecko Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:17:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51361 A ferry going a few hundred yards across to Brooklyn would be nice. A ferry going a few hundred yards across to Brooklyn would be nice.

]]> By: chandru http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51358 chandru Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:05:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51358 But what are these? Single speed coaster brake cruisers? That's may be ok on Gov Island, but hardly a good way to introduce biking. Why not a sturdy 3-speed hub with normal brakes like the French have done? But what are these? Single speed coaster brake cruisers? That's may be ok on Gov Island, but hardly a good way to introduce biking.

Why not a sturdy 3-speed hub with normal brakes like the French have done?

]]> By: Josh http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/comment-page-1/#comment-51356 Josh Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:23:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/governors-island-to-serve-as-testing-ground-for-nyc-bike-share/#comment-51356 So, no ugly wood bicycles then? Excellent! So, no ugly wood bicycles then? Excellent!

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