2,000 join Dublin bicycle scheme

[alonso]

RTÉ News: 2,000 join Dublin bicycle scheme

2,000 people have subscribed to the Dublin bikes Scheme which was launched in the city today.
Hundreds of bicycles are available for use on the streets of Dublin under the scheme.
Around 1,000 journeys were made on the bikes in the first six hours of use.....

Just to clear up a few omissions and misleading parts of the above article.

Thse pricing structure is as follows



So it's not a case of there being no charge for 30mins and then €4.50 for 6 hours as the article suggests (incorrectly anyway). There are options in between.

Also the deposit is only necessary in the event that you fail to return the bike within 24 hours and DOES NOT come off your credit card unless that happens.

.............................

Successful first day at least, by the sound of things. We'll see how this progresses. Hopefully by this time next year, or the summer, we will see places like Harold's Cross, Kilmainhman, Phibsboro, Fairview, Ringsend, Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh and Rathmines in the inner suburbs get a few terminals to bring the scheme into the sphere of commuting to work rather than just trips within the city centre.

It;s been years and years in planning, the contract with JC Decaux was dubious to say the least, it was supposed to be launched in the Spring time as that would've made sense, the public realm has been blighted by unsightly God-awful billboards, no one knows how many, if any, illegal billboards have been removed as part of this scheme, but they are finally finally here and Dublin can now boast a city bike scheme like the other efw dozen European cities.

One more part of the civilisation of the city centre has been complete, albeit a very small one. I for one welcome an additional 450 cyclists into Dublin City bringing us closer to the ever elusive critical mass and giving those fcking lawless cycle couriers a few more obstacles in their quest for cycling anarchy and giving those fcking ignorant taxi drivers a bit more of a sense that our streets don't belong to them and them alone.

[Jock_the_Waster]

db ?

die bahn.... I anticipate a lawsuit....

[dennehym]

Also the deposit is only necessary in the event that you fail to return the bike within 24 hours and DOES NOT come off your credit card unless that happens.

Actually, that's wrong - you can also be fined for damage done to the bike or anything judged as fraudulent use.

Thing is, however, if the bike is stolen, then even if you did everything right (locked it with the anti-theft device, called the Gardai and helpline immediately), you're still charged the €150. You have to go claim it back.

Have you ever tried doing that with, say, a parking ticket given in error? There's an unofficial policy of rejecting all such applications on the first submission, just to weed people out, and there are as many ro******************************************s put up to keep your money as possible.

For example, if you locked the bike outside a shop with the anti-theft device and it was stolen, can you prove the anti-theft device was working? Because you're liable for that. Read the T&C's, when you pick up the bike you're meant to inspect it to ensure it's roadworthy and in good condition (and part of that is inspecting the anti-theft device). Now if they say it obviously wasn't working and you just didn't check, how do you propose to prove they're incorrect?

Don't get me wrong, it'd be a nice idea if it worked... I just think that the way it's been done isn't set up to make it work. 450 bikes for a working population of a million people? And JC Decaux given twice the number of billboards per bike than Paris was?

And if Paris has 16,000 bikes vandalised in four years and 8,000 more stolen, and they're having to do 400 repairs a day and recover 20 bikes a day, I think we're going to be even worse...

[Malbekh]

As a side issue, I'm sure most of you have heard how wonderful it is to cycle in pedal-friendly countries like Canada? Well, think again. The article below highlights an incident where the former attorney-general in Toronto killed a cyclist after an altercation:

TheStar.com | GTA | Michael Bryant charged in cyclist's death

Hard to believe.

[Tressell]

RTÉ News: 2,000 join Dublin bicycle scheme




Just to clear up a few omissions and misleading parts of the above article.

Thse pricing structure is as follows



So it's not a case of there being no charge for 30mins and then €4.50 for 6 hours as the article suggests (incorrectly anyway). There are options in between.

Also the deposit is only necessary in the event that you fail to return the bike within 24 hours and DOES NOT come off your credit card unless that happens.

.............................

Successful first day at least, by the sound of things. We'll see how this progresses. Hopefully by this time next year, or the summer, we will see places like Harold's Cross, Kilmainhman, Phibsboro, Fairview, Ringsend, Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh and Rathmines in the inner suburbs get a few terminals to bring the scheme into the sphere of commuting to work rather than just trips within the city centre.

It;s been years and years in planning, the contract with JC Decaux was dubious to say the least, it was supposed to be launched in the Spring time as that would've made sense, the public realm has been blighted by unsightly God-awful billboards, no one knows how many, if any, illegal billboards have been removed as part of this scheme, but they are finally finally here and Dublin can now boast a city bike scheme like the other efw dozen European cities.

One more part of the civilisation of the city centre has been complete, albeit a very small one. I for one welcome an additional 450 cyclists into Dublin City bringing us closer to the ever elusive critical mass and giving those fcking lawless cycle couriers a few more obstacles in their quest for cycling anarchy and giving those fcking ignorant taxi drivers a bit more of a sense that our streets don't belong to them and them alone.

Thats 4 times the numbers who joined the Nama Protest yesterday. Shows the way this country is heading.

[alonso]

Actually, that's wrong - you can also be fined for damage done to the bike or anything judged as fraudulent use.

[SIZE=2]

[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]When is the guarantee debited? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]The guarantee (€150) is only debited in the event of theft or failure to return the db within 24 hours. In the event of a problem, you can contact the Call Centre on 1850 777 070.
[/SIZE][SIZE=2]

[/SIZE]

Not meant to be bold - can't seem to change it

Is there something missing re damages etc -

Thing is, however, if the bike is stolen, then even if you did everything right (locked it with the anti-theft device, called the Gardai and helpline immediately), you're still charged the €150. You have to go claim it back.

That's why hopefully there'll be more stations around the place so people will neither be paying for the rental or have to lock them anywhere

For example, if you locked the bike outside a shop with the anti-theft device and it was stolen, can you prove the anti-theft device was working? Because you're liable for that. Read the T&C's, when you pick up the bike you're meant to inspect it to ensure it's roadworthy and in good condition (and part of that is inspecting the anti-theft device). Now if they say it obviously wasn't working and you just didn't check, how do you propose to prove they're incorrect?

What anti-theft device? Is this not just for locking them to the terminals?

Don't get me wrong, it'd be a nice idea if it worked... I just think that the way it's been done isn't set up to make it work. 450 bikes for a working population of a million people? And JC Decaux given twice the number of billboards per bike than Paris was?

Agreed. Which is why it has to be bigger. Sooner rather than later. For example, Heuston station was omitted because it would be too popular and too difficult to serve!!!

And if Paris has 16,000 bikes vandalised in four years and 8,000 more stolen, and they're having to do 400 repairs a day and recover 20 bikes a day, I think we're going to be even worse...

We'll see.... who knows

I'm curious to see how it works, but not cynical. Yet

[alonso]

Thats 4 times the numbers who joined the Nama Protest yesterday. Shows the way this country is heading.

Are you saying that 2,000 joining your Labour DCC Councillor's pet project is a bad thing???

Maybe an anti-NAMA cycle would be more popular

[Tressell]

Are you saying that 2,000 joining your Labour DCC Councillor's pet project is a bad thing???

Maybe an anti-NAMA cycle would be more popular

On the contrary, I agree with it considering the way public transport is at present in this country.

[dennehym]

Is there something missing re damages etc

Yes - you're reading from the website, but I'm reading from article 10 of the terms and conditions, which is the actual legal agreement that you're signing up to. The two have a few subtle differences.

That's why hopefully there'll be more stations around the place so people will neither be paying for the rental or have to lock them anywhere

That's (a) not going to happen tomorrow, and (b) not going to get rid of the problem completely anyway.

What anti-theft device? Is this not just for locking them to the terminals?

No, the anti-theft device is what they call the built-in bike lock you're meant to use to secure it when you nip into the shop or whatever, it's in the basket here:


The lock securing it to the stand is part of the frame, and is a different thing altogether.

I'm curious to see how it works, but not cynical. Yet

I'm not cynical either - I'm looking at how it's worked in Paris and the petty crime level in the areas it's deployed in here. That's realism, not cynicism.

[Harmonica]

The advertising boards added as part of this deal are an unsightly blight on the city. Many of them should never have been consturcted in their locations are too closer to the kerbs & unsafe.

It will be interesting to see how this operates especially regarding broken & stolen bikes.

Given how terrible the bikes themselves look I wonder will locals be too embarrassed to use...maybe only tourists will use them...