Shared-Bike Program for Boston

Shared-Bike Program (6.00 / 1)

Ever since I visited Paris last year and used their shared-bike program Velib, which was really well implemented, I thought Boston would benefit well from it too.  Nice to see someone moving that forward!

Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. -Huxley  

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by: Cambridge_Paul @ Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 16:37:49 PM CDT

What is the scale? (6.00 / 1)

Do you envision a pilot program first in certain limited neighborhoods, or do you envision a larger plan that would include areas like Dorchester and Jamaica Plain from the start? In the past, I have heard of this beginning with T locations, but that seems to me to create a self-limiting result that could prevent future expansion. Could you go into greater detail of how you see this, or how other cities are currently do it, please?

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by: mike_cote @ Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 16:41:52 PM CDT

A few thoughts (6.00 / 5)

1.  Network effect.  Just like a subway with 100 stations throughout the area is more effective than a subway with only two stations, this project's effectiveness grows as more stations are added.  Don't build a few and then scrap the idea because it's ineffective -- you've got to build many stations for this to be useful.

2.  Involve people who are experts and interested: MassBike, local bike shop owners like Jeff Ferris (Ferris Wheels), bicycle committees in surrounding communities (Cambridge, Brookline), and Boston bike czar Nicole Freedman.

2a.  Be thoughtful about how this might become regional.  I guarantee you that if Boston starts it, Brookline and Cambridge will want to play too.  I'd bet other towns will too, but I'm confident about Brookline and Cambridge.

3.  Location, location, location.  These have got to be available in the right locations.  Near parks, near hotels, near business districts, near MBTA stations, near cycling corridors, near ball fields, and near where people live.

4.  It's got to be priced right.  Remember, there are benefits to the City, not just the user.  Reduced car ownership, less pollution, less roadway wear and tear, and a more healthy citizenry are all things that benefit the city as a whole.  Additionally, every Bostonian who gives up his or her car with the help of these bikes is one more who is shopping locally, thereby helping Boston shops compete with suburban malls.

5.  Figure out how to offer tandem bikes in a few locations.  My wife and I rented one from the city of Chicago when we were there in November.  Those things are fun!

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by: stomv @ Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 16:55:24 PM CDT

Pricing for students (6.00 / 2)

I think all of stomv's ideas are great, especially about the network and the inclusion of Cambridge and Brookline.

This may be obvious, but I say market and build incentives for students.  The tipping point for my zipcar membership came when I realized they had special membership pricing for my university.

There may not be huge need to get the relatively few resident students who drive cars off the road, but a.) the 250,000 students attending school in Boston and Cambridge often have discretionary funds and could infuse a fair amount of money into the program and b.) college students are trend setters. If the bike share program becomes en vogue at the colleges, it creates a city-wide buzz and with it more people become interested and free publicity comes from the Style pages of the local papers and weeklies.

At Northeastern, I could never get anyone to bike out to the Arboretum with me because most of my friends didn't have a bike. So many out-of-town college kids miss out simple, free/inexpensive pleasures of Boston like the Arboretum and Jamaica Pond because they don't know about it and have little incentive to take a train or bus to these "exotic" locals. Connect bike travel to deals at museums like the ICA or the Aquarium. Offer route maps to show that how close attractions are by bike: From Northeastern by bike, the Arboretum, the ICA, the North End, the Southie beaches, Kyaking on the Charles, Harvard Square, Devine Golf Course, and the Chestnut Hill Reservoir are all 20-40 minutes away by bike.

I think making the right marketing pitch to students could form a solid backbone of consumers that will create a ridership, a buzz, and will generate a good portion of the program's revenue. All this will translate to lower cost and better service to other bike share consumers, resulting in the greener city and  ofuse sustainable transportation sought after by this proposal.  

Let me get this straight: Democrats protest war, Republicans protest health care?

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by: tblade @ Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 08:39:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

One question, John: (6.00 / 1)

Bottled or tap? Be honest- do you drink from the City Hall bubblers?

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by: Farnkoff @ Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 18:40:52 PM CDT

What is old is new. (0.00 / 0)

In the 19th century people in Boston had a need to travel.  The easiest way (streets and roads were only as good as the weather) was by boat.  There were several boat rentals so you could go from one place to another relatively easily.  

These boat rentals were family or closely held small businesses.  They didn't survive much into the days of public transit.  If you check the old newspapers and business records, you will see traces of their existence.  Perhaps this is the model for a shared bike program.

Or, something such as ZIPCAR?

Surely, if government ran the boat rental program of 125 years ago, there would still be a program today.  There'd be no boats, of course, but over a thousand government employees all related to politicians and lots of words by these people as to how important the boat program is.  (Hmmm, sounds like the transit system...)

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by: Howland Lew Natick @ Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 18:48:55 PM CDT

Your feedback (6.00 / 2)

Thanks for the comments.  I'll address some of the concerns listed here.  Unfortunately, I have to run out to attend an event but will try and answer your questions and concerns in more detail this week.

1. The thought is that the program would start, initially, with bike stations in the center city or downtown area, but the hearing process is meant to address exactly this type of issue.

2. When I approached the Administration about the idea for a bike-share program, I discovered that Nicole Freedman, the Director of Boston Bikes, and Jim Hunt, Chief of Environment and Energy Services, had already been working, for some time, on bringing this kind of program to Boston.  Since then, I've been coordinating with them on this hearing.  My understanding is that the City is releasing a Request for Information (RFI) to begin mapping out concrete plans.

3.  I hope the hearing will be an opportunity for those who care about this issue to have a part in ironing out these details.  I'll post any updates and let you know a date and time for the hearing as soon as it's scheduled.  

Thanks again for all your feedback.  I'll post again soon.

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by: Boston City Councillor John R. Connolly @ Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 18:49:55 PM CDT

Let a hundred flowers bloom (0.00 / 0)

and, the idea of a Velib-style program in the Hub is delightful.

But Boston is a dangerous and unpleasant place to bike not because people don't have access to bicycles but because of mean streets and lack of amenities (like a safe place to park).

Best wishes in addressing those problems too.

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by: Trickle up @ Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 21:57:25 PM CDT

As more people bicycle... (0.00 / 0)

perhaps some drivers [who now sometimes bicycle] will become less dangerous toward cyclists.  As the number of cyclists grow, perhaps the number of cyclists demanding safe streets [pothole repair, perpendicularly oriented sewer grates, street sweeping of gutters, etc] will increase.

As cycling moves from courier/college kid/weekend lycra to all that plus moms, dads, colleagues from work, and neighbors from all neighborhoods, perhaps public support of cycling from citizens and government will become as normal as expecting curb cuts and crosswalks, traffic signals and entrance ramps.

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by: stomv @ Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 22:53:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The more the merrier (0.00 / 0)

and obviously a velib could have many benefits introducing cycling in a way that does not entail any financial risk.

However, newbie cyclists can learn some "wrong" lessons cycling ineffectively (even dangerously) on Boston's mean streets. As in, "That's effing nuts! I'll never do that again." (And, "wrong" is in quotes because maybe its not so wrong.)

On balance I agree with you about demand leading to needed improvements. I just want to use every opportunity to highlight the real barriers to cycling in the city, when relevant (which I think it is here).

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by: Trickle up @ Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 10:57:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hear, Hear (0.00 / 0)

Can't pin all bike accidents on "mean motorists".  Out here in Newton I almost squashed a teenager the other day who was blithely riding on his BMX bike listening to his Ipod, zigzagging to the beat, when he completely swerved into the middle of the road.  I had watched him with trepidation as I saw the earbuds, but I ended up in a full screeching halt directly in the opposite lane as he was intent in marrying the right side of my fender.

Won't even go into the folks I see every day blowing through red lights on their training ride (and we're talking the intersections of Nahatan and Wells Avenue and Kendrick by the PTC building at full rush hour).  Don't bikes have to pay attention to such things as stop signs and red lights also?

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by: Mike from Norwell @ Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 08:58:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bikes and cars do indeed. (0.00 / 0)

Don't bikes have to pay attention to such things as stop signs and red lights also?

They certainly do, as well as laws about double parking, speeding, blocking the box, yield signs, etc.

What I find strange is that drivers of vehicles break these laws constantly, and yet I've never seen a conversation where someone said or wrote: "I see you're discussing autos.  Let me tell you about this guy this morning who double parked.  And then there was this other one who was doing 47 in a 35.  Man, these drivers, I'll tell you..."

I wonder why that is.

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by: stomv @ Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 10:46:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

But the consequences (0.00 / 0)

of speeding through a red light in a car, although severe, can easily result in death by a bicyclist/motorcyclist.  I've at least got a few thousand pounds of metal around me in a car; that little Bell helmet ain't going to do to much if you're teed by a car in the middle of an intersection you're crossing illegally.

Certainly motorists need to be aware and considerate of bicyclists; but for nothing else than trying to avoid a Darwin Award nomination, cyclists should at least pay attention to the rules of the road.  I don't want to live with unwarranted guilt because I crush some idiot on a bike who doesn't think red lights apply to him.

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by: Mike from Norwell @ Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 11:08:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Which is precisely why (0.00 / 0)

the unbalanced concern-trolling is just that, concern trolling.  In the vast majority of cases, in an accident where a bicyclist ignored the law, the bicyclist pays most of the consequence.  In an accident where a motorist ignored the law, the bicyclist pays most of the consequence.

Surely then, shouldn't we as a society be far more concerned about when the motorist breaks the law precisely because there is a clear imbalance on who bears the consequences of the violation?

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by: stomv @ Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 11:50:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Think we're on the same side here, (0.00 / 0)

but I was pretty shaken up after this idiot kid (actually not a kid, looked to be of high school age) incident last week in Newton on Vine Street.

These are the same reasons that Harley owners use for loud pipes, as it doesn't matter who's right or wrong, the cyclist/motorcyclist is going to lose any argument with a car. But bicyclists also have to have some responsibility for their actions too; the red light violations (especially by all of these semi-racer adults who should know better) I see almost on a daily basis here in Needham/Newton.  Only a matter of time for someone to get squashed.

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by: Mike from Norwell @ Tue Jul 15, 2008 at 12:02:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Safety is Good (0.00 / 0)

How do we get the Boston bicyclists we have to obey the law?  You know, stuff like stopping at red lights, not riding through cross walks when pedestrians are crossing, and not riding the wrong way down one way streets?  I've been hit by a messenger and witnessed countless near misses.  

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by: DaveS @ Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 10:49:10 AM CDT

Same way we get Boston drivers (0.00 / 0)

 

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by: stomv @ Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 20:31:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why bother? (0.00 / 0)

Councillor Connolly,

It's a nightmare to bike in this city, this program will fail.  Please help by first CREATING SAFE, DEDICATED, CLEARLY MARKED BIKE LANES and then MAINTAINING THEM and then we can talk bike sharing (this will go a long way toward getting bikers to obey traffic laws too, since we can just stay out of traffic to begin with.)

I'd bike to work every day of the year, if it was safe to do so.  

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by: JAG @ Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 20:19:45 PM CDT

Boston is a pretty decent place to ride (0.00 / 0)

I do ride to work every day (in Cambridge these days, but I used to work in Boston). I've been all over the city and surrounding suburbs by bike (even to Logan airport a couple of times), and while traffic in a few places has made me nervous, I can't say I've ever really been in fear for my life.

Which is not to argue that your particular commute would necessarily be safe -- not knowing where you live and work, I can't say sure. But I can say from experience that Boston on the whole is a fine place to bike.

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by: elbows @ Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 12:50:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Which do you think the city will eliminate (5.00 / 1)

a lane of travel on the road, or a lane of parking?

The reality is that in cities like Boston, there just isn't enough right-of-way real estate to create sufficiently wide bike lanes in very many places.  Instead, we get squeezed bike lanes, which are loaded with sewer grates and are within the door zone.

I don't think bike lanes are the key to safety in Boston.  Sure, a few are great, and if they can connect natural bike thoroughfares, even better.  But instead, I think a combination of (a) easily accessible paths [Esplanade, etc], and (b) enough cyclists on the road so that the right lane just naturally becomes a full width bike lane is the key to people feeling safe while riding in Boston metro.

I ride my bike in the Boston metro 250+ days a year, in traffic.  I generally feel less safe in bike lanes because I get buzzed on the left by cars too often, who incorrectly assume that since there's a bike lane that they can drive by me at full speed near the right of their lane without paying attention to any evasive moves I might have to make [doors, debris, pothole, etc].  When there's no bike lane, I take enough of the rightmost lane to safely evade anything in front and to the right of me; that often means that a car can't squeeze by me, and therefore... doesn't even try to do so.

There are lots of different cyclist types, and what feels safe for some feels less safe for others.  Ultimately though, the more cyclists in "the grid" at any one time, the safer it will be for all cyclists.

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by: stomv @ Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 20:38:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]