Comment by Matt on May 16, 2012 at 10:55

I wouldn't call it "NYC Style" bike sharing - New York hasn't even launched theirs yet, and there have been automated "kiosk" style bike sharing systems around in Europe since the mid-90's. The Paris Vélib scheme which started in 2007 is one of the more successful examples, as is Dublin's dublinbikes which started in 2009.

But yes I agree it would be nice to have (versus the volunteer-driven City Bikes scheme), and its uptake would very likely be dependent on a relaxation of helmet laws (as evidenced by the lacklustre performance of the Melbourne and Brisbane systems).

Apparently Sydney is considering a bike sharing system contingent on being granted an exemption to helmet laws, see http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bike-hire-plans-hinge-on-helmets-20120304....

Comment by Will Matthews on May 16, 2012 at 12:44

Thanks for sharing that link regarding plans for Sydney bike sharing system! I'm super excited to see this type of system for Adelaide. Come on City Council and Government....we need to start making our city safer to ride in. 

Comment by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on May 17, 2012 at 12:20

What will work and is appropriate culturally varies from place to place.

I think pointing the finger at helmet laws is probably a simplistic view of the issues.

Perhaps in a perfect world we wouldn't even need bikes.

Everything would be within walking distance.

Comment by Will Matthews on May 17, 2012 at 13:21

Bike sharing systems have been successfully implemented in Paris, Hangzhou, Washington, Mumbai, London, Mexico, Dublin and many more cities around the world.

These places are have vastly different cultures.

Are we so alien cultured here in Adelaide, that we don't fit in with this group?

Australia is the only country in the world to implement bike sharing schemes in conjunction with Mandatory Helmet Laws, and our bike sharing schemes have not been very successful.

The Australian chief executive of JCDecaux, the company who runs the Brisbane bike sharing system said "there was "no doubt" the mandatory use of helmets constrained the use of the scheme."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/slow-uptake-doesnt-faze-...

In Melbourne, Clay Lucas of The Age newspaper wrote "The bike scheme has been crippled by Melbourne's compulsory helmet laws."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/helmet-law-hurting-shared-bike-sc...

Don, if not the bike helmet laws, what do you believe is limiting the success of these schemes in Australia?

Regarding your last two comments, are you saying you would rather walk than ride a bike?

Comment by Matt on May 17, 2012 at 15:02

Not just Australia, New Zealand has also implemented a bike sharing scheme (Auckland) with mandatory helmet laws in effect. Apparently with similarly poor performance.

Comment by Matt Brennan on May 17, 2012 at 17:33

Maybe Australians and New Zealanders are just lazy bas$%ds who couldn't be bothered cycling?

Comment by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on May 18, 2012 at 13:17

maybe most people have access to a car that is easy to use and the distances are often large

Comment by Darren Bosanko on May 18, 2012 at 21:01

Having experienced how useful the Velib system is in Paris I'm all for it. NY was a different story. Sure the system might work, but certainly not as safe (in my opinion). City full of crazy riders and drivers....ahhhhhh!

Comment by Dario Gautama on May 20, 2012 at 23:24

Ah.....just like Melbourne's system.

[IMG]http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq286/OmegaZ33TSP/7955_21.jpg[/IMG]
Taken with my Nikon FE (Yap....it is a film)

Regarding helmet, I saw most of big 7-11 or convenience store in Melbourne selling (or rent?) helmet for 3$-5$ and you can get most of your money when return it.
But honestly I still don't get any idea on how helmet discourage people from cycling. ^^;

In this case, I might be understand why mandatory helmet law is not going well with NYC style bike sharing.
It is good that convenience store have cycling helmet, but what discourage me from renting these bike is "Is that helmet free from other people's sweats?" question.

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