Metro Vancouver Bike & Pedestrian Discussion - Page 11

David · #**201** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 4:32 AM**

Awesome news!

agrant · #**202** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 4:57 AM**

Now all we need to do is make some proper segragated bike lanes, something beyond just painting a bike shaped logo on the side of the road.

Spork · #**203** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 5:20 AM**

The prices seem a bit out of wack. $5 for 30 mins, $78 for a year? Seems like one should be cheaper or the other more expensive.

racc · #**204** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 5:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork

The prices seem a bit out of wack. $5 for 30 mins, $78 for a year? Seems like one should be cheaper or the other more expensive.

It is $5 for a day. You can use bikes for 30 minutes at a time for no extra charge throughout the 24 hour period. It is $78 for the 7 months a year it is running in Montreal.

DKaz · #**205** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 3:52 PM**

I just tried the bicycles out at Science World, very cool. They're easy to ride like cruisers, have 3 speeds (the first gear is for going up hills, the second gear is go on flats, the third gear is for going fast on flats/going down hills). You don't have to wear full out bicycle attire to ride these, whether you're in a full out business suit or in beach wear, these bicycles look good and work either way.

Membership is $78 a year or $28 a month or $5 a day and your first half hour of EACH RENTAL is free. For example, I get off at Waterfront Station, get a Bixi, ride 8 minutes to a station near my work, and return it. That ride is free. I get a Bixi at 10am to go to a client meeting in Gastown, 15 minutes there, that's free. Return trip is free. Going to Waterfront to commute home is free. The first 30 minutes is free to encourage short frequent trips. The next 30 minute of a trip is $1.50. Say I want to ride around Stanley Park, that takes about 40 minutes. $1.50 is a heckuva lot cheaper than using the rental shops. The third 30 minute period is $3.00, the fourth and subsequent is $6.00, I don't see anyone using a Bixi for more than an hour at a time though.

http://www.bixi.com/subscription-and-fees/online

I can really see this program taking off in Vancouver, especially for those who aren't hardcore cyclist but need a good, quick, recreational way of getting around casually, like me. I wish I had a bicycle downtown to quickly ride from Waterfront to work as walking and bussing both take way too long.

city-dweller · #**206** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 3:54 PM**

Are helmets provided?

deasine · #**207** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by city-dweller

Are helmets provided?

That's the law they should just get rid of.

city-dweller · #**208** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 4:04 PM**

Agreed. A compromise may to make it required for children and optional for adults.

Does Montreal have this law?

DKaz · #**209** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 4:13 PM**

One thing I noted on Buzzer Blog comment:

Either:

1.) Scrap the helmet law and instead have a waiver that any cyclists suffering from head injuries and not wearing a helmet will not have their medical expenses covered by MSP, nor will the City of Vancouver or any municipality or Bixi or any other bicycle rental shop or the manufacturer or anyone else be liable.

2.) Include a helmet rental system with the bikes, which may not be easy to implement.

It was easy enough to carry a helmet with me today, they’re feather light but just really bulky.

twoNeurons · #**210** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 4:47 PM**

If enough people stopped wearing helmets... it would be impossible to enforce.

city-dweller · #**211** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 8:42 PM**

Checked out the biki demo at lunch, its really well done.
The bikes had City of Montreal logo and Montreal on the side.
The stands are 100% portable so no excavation
The pay station on the stands are 100% solar with wireless internet for credit transactions.
They look heavier than they feel.

Biki + Vancouver streetcar = no need for car downtown

Canadian Mind · #**212** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 9:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by city-dweller

Checked out the biki demo at lunch, its really well done.
The bikes had City of Montreal logo and Montreal on the side.
The stands are 100% portable so no excavation
The pay station on the stands are 100% solar with wireless internet for credit transactions.
They look heavier than they feel.

Biki + Vancouver streetcar = no need for car downtown

no need for car downtown = phase-out smaller sidestreets?

DKaz · #**213** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 9:53 PM**

The sidestreets/alleys are necessary for deliveries and garbage collection among other things. A lot of parkades enter/exit in the alley. You can reduce vehicular traffic but you'll never completely eliminate it.

Davel · #**214** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 10:09 PM**

I'm in Montreal temporarily and returning to Vancouver in 3 weeks. Bixi is one of the things that I will miss most in Montreal. I use it everyday to get to and from work. So much cheaper than a monthly metro card and way less boring. If and when they introduce it in Vancouver, I could see myself riding skytrain a lot less (I'll ride when it's raining, so maybe not that much less).
I am such a huge fan of the bixi system, I'd like to see it implemented before any other transit initiative (streetcar, skytrain extensions, etc...)
If Montreal can earn profit or break even (yet to be determined) when operating it around 6 months of the year, imagine the possibilities in a city like Vancouver where this could operate year round, you have higher or similar density, and a general population that is more active. This would be a HUGE hit in Vancouver. I can't wait.

ravman · #**215** Posted **Jun 13, 2009, 9:17 PM**

how much to try it out there? and when is there till?

DKaz · #**216** Posted **Jun 13, 2009, 10:20 PM**

The demo at Science World? It's a free demo, just bring a helmet and ID, you can ride for 15 minutes before they hunt your arse down with the bike's built in GPS.

SpongeG · #**217** Posted **Jun 14, 2009, 8:28 PM**

they were talking about it on the peak 100.5 yesterday - anyone go down?

racc · #**218** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 9:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKaz

The sidestreets/alleys are necessary for deliveries and garbage collection among other things. A lot of parkades enter/exit in the alley. You can reduce vehicular traffic but you'll never completely eliminate it.

I'm sure people were saying that about the horse 100 years ago.

zivan56 · #**219** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by racc

I'm sure people were saying that about the horse 100 years ago.

And what has changed? The horse has become many horses in a compact area and the fuel has changed from water and hay to fossil fuels. Otherwise, it is still the same vehicle with more creature comforts.

racc · #**220** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 10:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zivan56

And what has changed? The horse has become many horses in a compact area and the fuel has changed from water and hay to fossil fuels. Otherwise, it is still the same vehicle with more creature comforts.

Everything.