Nicole Freedman the “Bike Czar” in Boston promotes public bike share and how it is transforming the City of Boston.
http://inhabitat.com/video-boston-bike-czar-nicole-freedman-talks-bike-share-urban-cycling/
Tag Archives: bike-sharing
Integrated Helmet Dispenser with Public Bike Share!
“Forget lugging a helmet around in case you fancy an impromptu ride when, or if, Vancouver gets a bike share system.
The city – set to decide later this spring whether to launch a bike share system with preferred vendor Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share – paid $50,000 to Richmond-based SandVault Group Global Solutions Corp. to develop a prototype of a bike helmet distribution machine.
In just 41 days after the city awarded SandVault the contract in November, it built a noggin-protecting prototype that it showed off to Metro on Thursday.
SandVault’s helmet dispensing machine. (Metro/Jennifer Gauthier)
Using the solar powered machine was as easy as swiping a card, selecting a size and style on a keypad and removing a helmet from a dispenser that’s integrated with a bike system.
“If you want to wear a helmet, there’s a helmet right there,” business development manager Derrick Moennick said. “It should be as easy as possible.”
The helmets are equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags so when users drop them off they are “quarantined” and not rented out until they are cleaned and checked for safety. Maintenance crews would sanitize the helmets as part of the system’s operating cost, which the city has previously pegged at about $1.9 million annually.
In Melbourne, the city’s helmet law led to lukewarm adoption of its bike share system, as helmets there must be purchased at retail locations or from vending machines. Alta told Metro in June it was working on an integrated system to avoid the mistakes made in Australia.
While Vancouver awarded the prototype contract to SandVault, it is still exploring various options and suppliers for helmet distribution, according to director of transportation Jerry Dobrovolny.
SandVault, which operates the world’s only non-subsidized bike share at tourist hotspot Miami Beach, applied to operate Vancouver’s bike share system but lost to Alta.
The company also built systems in Long Beach, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Golden, B.C. and will soon launch one in Sao Paulo. Its technology is still operational after Hurricane Sandy slammed into the N.Y. operations.
“It’s important for government to support local industries that employ people and produce exports,” company owner Richard Murray said.” – Metronews.ca
Is the law on helmets why bikeshare is failing?
This is a great article on the Helmet law and the experience that Australian cities have had.
This is worth the read!
On a quick note, Vancouver has been going through multiple demonstrations to define its integrated helmet strategy – new post to follow!
Sacramento To Add Public Bike Share Solution
“Imagine a new public transportation system for Sacramento, flexible, cheap and sustainable, providing cardio-workout benefits and devouring near-zero energy. The system is neither experimental nor destined to become obsolete in a few years. In fact, it’s been tested in various formats for years and is established globally as a marvel of engineering logic.”
Nashville Deploys Public Bike Share
“Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Health Director Bill Paul and Tom Turner, CEO and president of the Nashville Downtown Partnership, demonstrated the program by checking out B-cycle bikes from an automated kiosk at the city’s Public Square, then rode to the Nashville Farmer’s Market and return the bikes to a kiosk there.
“Nashville B-cycle is one more way that we can make Nashville a more bike-friendly city and inspire people to embrace healthy, active living,” Dean said. “The strategically located kiosks will make getting around our urban core even easier and more convenient for workers, residents and visitors.”
Perfect Match: Metro Vancouver Melds Bikes and Transit
Frequently asked Questions and Answers concerning Bike Sharing
For any US City thinking about exploring public bike share systems, below is great information and one of the best places to start.
http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/Informal_Q_and_As_Final_6-14-12.pdf
Bixi/Alta Continue Delays Even for Bike Share Systems Trying to Expand
Washington DC doesn’t have to contend with the software issues, as they’re system uses the older proven core technology. Will San Diego launch before San Fransisco, Chicago and New York?
DecoBike Short-listed for City of Tampa
DecoBike/SandVault Win San Diego
Are you interested in receiving our public bike share newsletter, or information on public bike share equipment?
If so, please send me a quick e-mail: derrick@sandvault.com
