Advocacy & Safety - Will Boston's bike share program work?

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San Rensho
08-14-09, 09:00 AM
The city of Boston plans to introduce a Paris style bicycle rental program. I have serious doubts that will work, mostly because of the mindset of Americans.

First, I don't think many people will use the program because of course the car is sacred and revered, bicycle riding is for losers. Second, vandalism and theft are unfortunately endemic in our big cities. Those bikes will last about three seconds.

It's a great idea and I hope it works, but I have serious doubts.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/aug/14/boston-bike-share-blog

annc
08-14-09, 09:56 AM
Paris has more than its share of vandalism and theft of their bicycles (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7881079.stm) but it seems that Barcelona's Bicing has experience the same level of vandalism. I suspect that vandalism and theft will be the largest factor that will determine Boston's success. Bicycles are expensive; it will take many rides or several years of subscriptions to replace a stolen bike.
ewesel88
08-14-09, 10:45 AM
The Boston bike sharing plan is doomed to fail for several reasons. First, the streets are about as unfriendly for a cyclist as can be, and second, even if the streets were friendly, without an aggressive (and costly) regular maintenance program the bikes will not survive 6 months.