Hi everybody,
As you may be aware, cycling has became much more popular worldwide in the last few years.
There are three main reasons.
1. The green factor: less pollution, less traffic jams, less carbons emissions, ...
2. Heath & fitness: The gentle type of exercise provided by cycling is one of the best type you can do to remain healthy. It has been claimed that regular cycling adds several years to your life. The same can be said about other forms of exercise though.
3. The bike share schemes that are spreading all other the major capital cities. Bike share schemes are a new form of transport. Imagine that, instead of having a bus stop, you had a collection of bicycles you could pick up and use. You arrive at the bicycle station, pick up a bike, ride to where you want to go, then leave it at the bicycle station closest to your destination. That's all. You don't have to worry about the bicycle after that. It's not your bike, it's just a bike you rented for the trip, say 30 minutes.
The rental cost is typically low, say $1. The whole point for the city is to get the community benefits from increasing bicycle usage: fewer traffic jams, less pollution, a healthier population requiring less medical attention.
It started in Paris in 2007. It was a huge success. Lots of other cites around Europe and North America have successfully replicated the system now. I think we are near 100 cities having implemented a bike share scheme now.
It is coming to Australia soon, with bike share schemes planned for Melbourne and Brisbane.
An Australian bicycle enthusiast has made an interesting video about the proposed Melbourne scheme:
http://datillo.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/bike-share-will-we-ever-get-it-here/
This has been noticed by one of the most prominent bicycle blog worldwide, a danish site:
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/11/sue-mr-rubbo-and-australian-bixis.html
This has triggered a lively debate regarding the wisdom of our rather unique compulsory helmet law. Unfortunately, it is difficult for a bike share scheme to work if you must wear a helmet. None of the other bike share scheme worldwide have to accomodate a compulsory helmet law.
It is an interesting issue, because if it was successful in Australia, it would increase the quality of life in our cities. Imagine a city with much fewer traffic jams, mostly gentle traffic, less pollution, and people enjoying the benefits of regular exercise. It could stop the dreadful rise in obesity, and its large associated cost, we are experiencing in this country.
We have become so car dependent that it might be difficult to imagine for some people.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out. I would love to see our cities transformed into bicycle-friendly places, like Holland is now.
The way of the future? Who knows. At least it is a more sustainable way to live, that actually benefits us as well.
Maybe I'm just dreaming.
Cheers,
As you may be aware, cycling has became much more popular worldwide in the last few years.
There are three main reasons.
1. The green factor: less pollution, less traffic jams, less carbons emissions, ...
2. Heath & fitness: The gentle type of exercise provided by cycling is one of the best type you can do to remain healthy. It has been claimed that regular cycling adds several years to your life. The same can be said about other forms of exercise though.
3. The bike share schemes that are spreading all other the major capital cities. Bike share schemes are a new form of transport. Imagine that, instead of having a bus stop, you had a collection of bicycles you could pick up and use. You arrive at the bicycle station, pick up a bike, ride to where you want to go, then leave it at the bicycle station closest to your destination. That's all. You don't have to worry about the bicycle after that. It's not your bike, it's just a bike you rented for the trip, say 30 minutes.
The rental cost is typically low, say $1. The whole point for the city is to get the community benefits from increasing bicycle usage: fewer traffic jams, less pollution, a healthier population requiring less medical attention.
It started in Paris in 2007. It was a huge success. Lots of other cites around Europe and North America have successfully replicated the system now. I think we are near 100 cities having implemented a bike share scheme now.
It is coming to Australia soon, with bike share schemes planned for Melbourne and Brisbane.
An Australian bicycle enthusiast has made an interesting video about the proposed Melbourne scheme:
http://datillo.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/bike-share-will-we-ever-get-it-here/
This has been noticed by one of the most prominent bicycle blog worldwide, a danish site:
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/11/sue-mr-rubbo-and-australian-bixis.html
This has triggered a lively debate regarding the wisdom of our rather unique compulsory helmet law. Unfortunately, it is difficult for a bike share scheme to work if you must wear a helmet. None of the other bike share scheme worldwide have to accomodate a compulsory helmet law.
It is an interesting issue, because if it was successful in Australia, it would increase the quality of life in our cities. Imagine a city with much fewer traffic jams, mostly gentle traffic, less pollution, and people enjoying the benefits of regular exercise. It could stop the dreadful rise in obesity, and its large associated cost, we are experiencing in this country.
We have become so car dependent that it might be difficult to imagine for some people.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out. I would love to see our cities transformed into bicycle-friendly places, like Holland is now.
The way of the future? Who knows. At least it is a more sustainable way to live, that actually benefits us as well.
Maybe I'm just dreaming.
Cheers,