Bixi Bikes

[smuler]

Hi Hypocycloid for giving us a breakdown of the componentry on the bike..

I am curious as to the gearing/shifting of these bikes..

When I go to Copenhagen, they have a wonderful FREE bike program. I will attach a link :

http://www.bycyklen.dk/english/thecitybikeandcopenhagen.aspx

These bikes are 1 speed, backpedal brakes, heavy steel frames with tires that cannot possibly go flat.

Entry level transport, so certainly nobody would ever bother to steal one.. Copenhagen is remarkable, as many people cycle, but few lock their bikes while they are inside a store..

Last month, a work friend and I spent a couple hours riding around Copenhagen, stopping at beer bars..never locking our bikes in the rack, or just leaning them on a building.

I know certainly that this is an unrealistic picture, as I am sure that bike theft occurs...

Compare this to Amsterdam, where your bike will probably get stolen sooner or later. That's why they mostly look like old rusty granny bikes....

Maybe that's the answer....

These bikes are only good for one season anyway..why not buy cheaper, durable entry level machinery ??

No credit cards, no fraud.. hardly any bikes go missing

Just a thought....



Best Regards


Smuler

 

[mtl.vibe]

I have tried it. It works. But I don't believe its going to last.

 

[perfectsilence]

these are not great quality bikes, they are heavy, only 3 levels of gears and half of the bikes I tried don't brake very well. I don't know why locals would pay $78 a year, for that money you can buy a used bike that is better quality, and you can lock it anywhere and not have to go find a bixi station every half an hour.

 

[NathanJ]

I don't use it (for now) but...

To all who thinks it's not a good idea..

Just wait and see !
I bet you that Toronto, New-York, etc... will end-up copying the idea !

It reminds me of one festival playing at this moment...
So many people said it would never be what it is now !

 

[JH Fan]

And looks like TO is having quite a problem adapting with the idea of cycling :
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/u-k-newspaper-writes-toronto-war-cycling-231907669.html

 

[CLOUD 500]

As anyone who already owns a bike in Montreal already knows:
It is the fastest mode of transportation to get around the city.
Faster than your car or public transport because of traffic and parking.

I agree. But the problem is that we live in a cold country. Seven out of twelve months it is too cold to ride a bicycle .

 

[CLOUD 500]

I'm fed up of bikers not respecting traffic laws something should really be

done about that (crossing red lights, not stopping at signs, going wrong way)

The thing that annoys me the most about bikers is them riding so much into the road taking up so much space. Give me a break. A bicycle is so small compared to a car and does not need to take up so much space not to mention it makes it very difficult to pass them when you are on a busy narrow two way road.

 

[Joe.t]

I agree. But the problem is that we live in a cold country. Seven out of twelve months it is too cold to ride a bicycle .

Very depressing isn't it.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I agree. But the problem is that we live in a cold country. Seven out of twelve months it is too cold to ride a bicycle .

I ride for 8 months of the year. I stop mid-November, start again mid-March.

The thing that annoys me the most about bikers is them riding so much into the road taking up so much space. Give me a break. A bicycle is so small compared to a car and does not need to take up so much space not to mention it makes it very difficult to pass them when you are on a busy narrow two way road.

The real problem is motorists who think they have more right to the road than cyclists. Montreal could probably fix all the roads and bridges in the province if cops started ticketing every driver who fails to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I ride for 8 months of the year. I stop mid-November, start again mid-March.

Sounds like my hobbying habits.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Just wait and see !
I bet you that Toronto, New-York, etc... will end-up copying the idea !

Nailed it! Bixi now has 5000 bikes in Montreal, 1000 in Toronto, 100 in Ottawa, 6000 in London, England, 600 in Melbourne, 1100 in Washington DC, 700 in Minneapolis.

 

[smuler]

Nailed it! Bixi now has 5000 bikes in Montreal, 1000 in Toronto, 100 in Ottawa, 6000 in London, England, 600 in Melbourne, 1100 in Washington DC, 700 in Minneapolis.

And a version in Boulder Colorado, where I'll be soon


http://boulder.bcycle.com/

But Rumples- I'm taking the Dahon :


http://www.gaerlan.com/dahon/pack.htm


Best Regards

Smuler

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

And a version in Boulder Colorado, where I'll be soon

There are other cities around the world that also have public bicycles. The ones I list were all built and installedl by Bixi of Montreal.

 

[Equator360]

I heard on the radio that the bikes cost $900 each because they are made in Quebec. I will bet they can have them made in Chine on spec for under $200.

 

[JH Fan]

I will bet they can have them made in Chine on spec for under $200.

Yup ! and they'll probably make the 'Bezerkers' for a lot less too.

 

[Mod 11]

I heard on the radio that the bikes cost $900 each because they are made in Quebec. I will bet they can have them made in Chine on spec for under $200.

Probably true. Then we'll have to move to China to get a job.

 

[daydreamer41]

Probably true. Then we'll have to move to China to get a job.

That's already happening in the US, and some people can't afford the ticket on the slow boat to China.

 

[metoo4]

That is what Walmart is all about! Pay the lowest price possible now, make them make the more money possible now and soon, you won't be able to pay anything since your job will be transferred somewhere cheaper and you will be on unemployment.

 

[Zatara]

That's already happening in the US, and some people can't afford the ticket on the slow boat to China.

You can work your passage over there by shoveling coal into the ships boilers.