So. The London bike scheme has been going for a few weeks, and seems to be a success. The bikes themselves are pretty cool, using some nice technology Link and the principle has been proven in advance by Paris, where we have the wonderful Velib system.
The main problems noted to date are difficulty in subscribing for early adopters and the helmet conundrum.
Being a regular on the Paris Velibs (I take one to work and back every day) there are a couple of other issues I expect to see.
First is vandalism. In Paris they reckon that about half of all Velibs have been vandalised. I myself was involved in a fight when I stopped some arse trying to kick one out of its station. I have seen them in the Seine, I have seen an entire rank of about 20 deliberately destroyed by a white van driver, and I am sure worse happens.
The other thing is idiocy. I wear a helmet, which I keep in my backpack, but many people don't. Last night on the way home, riding in the cycle path down the Rue de Rivoli I hit two people with a pointed elbow (as a punishment) and ploughed straight into a crowd of about 6 people who just stepped into the bike path. Admittedly it is tourists I usually hit, Parisians being wise to it, but it is indicative of how stupid people can be.
The thing is that London's streets are mainly narrower than Paris', so it will be difficult to put a safe bike lane on every street, the way we have here. and people will die; particulalrly oportunistic users without a feel for the streets.
I assume that the death toll will be announced after the scheme has been too widely accepted tofail, but it is going to cost London in lives and money.


LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
!


