If you could rent a bicycle at no cost once per day for up to 12 hrs, how many would be rented?

[Boojatta]

How I arrived at the question might be more interesting than armchair speculation about the correct answer, but don't hesitate to suggest ways of estimating how much usage there would be in various cities.

We begin by asking who will solve the problem of harnessing available energy to create liquid fuels to replace fossil fuels. The problem is how to ensure that people who are ready, willing, and able to develop a solution will actually have an opportunity to create a solution. The Wright brothers were able to pursue their research because they owned a bicycle repair shop. Yes, the train of thought is that simple-minded! If libraries, community centers, or some other already existing government institutions paid for the bicycles, then they would require bicycle repair services. Those services could be paid for by governments, but provided by private sector firms. There would be two benefits. The first benefit is that people would get more exercise and fresh air, and reduce their consumption of fossil fuels. The second benefit is that there would be more business opportunities in the area of bicycle repair.

Now, it's obvious that the airplane could have been invented by people who relied on something other than bicycle repair to earn their income and to pay for materials for experimentation associated with the airplane project, and materials for the experimental airplanes themselves. However, even today in the "age of information", the Wright brothers would likely have no opportunity to pursue their research as something other than a hobby unless their school grades were extremely high. However, it seems unlikely that the kind of people who are predisposed to persevere with their own very independent program of research are likely to devote their formative years to maximizing their grades in the existing system of formal education. What do you think?

Returning to the question that's the title of this thread, perhaps you wonder how to handle people who go over 12 hours. One idea is to charge them overdue fines, just like libraries. As security for the bicycle, they could be required to show acceptable photo ID and acceptable evidence of current address.

[dmallind]

1. As many as could be done so before they were all vandalized out of utility

Which of course we know from real world experience.

[Boojatta]

3. Are all library books vandalized to the extent that they have no use?

[dmallind]

5. Sadly, people are less attracted to books than bikes

At least those who vandalize anyway.

So you are claiming to be unfamilar with examples of public bike programs halted due to vandalism?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

2. many people live and too far away to easily commute.

Then there's the aspect of having to be physically fit to get where you want.
What about families with small children or pregnant women?
where do people ride the bikes? Do they share the road with cars? (talk about unsafe)
What about states that have snow or excessive shitty weather?

Bikes really only make sense in urban areas for local jobs.
Most of America lives rurally or in suburbs.

IMO, if the governemnt simply GAVE everyone a bike to commute it wouldn't put a significant dent in fossil fuel transportation. Cars are better. As long as people can afford cars they will prefer them. Everyone who want's to commute on a bike rather than a car already does so. Bikes are dirt cheap - it's not the acess, price, or availability of bikes that is stifling thier ubiquity. It's laziness.

[Statistical]

4. Hard to believe but with car pooling an efficient hybrid uses less fossil fuels than a bike.

:)

Bikes are powered by calories. Calories come from food and food has a high fossil fuel & CO2 footprint.

[jdlh8894]

6. Bikes are dirt cheap ? LMAO!

One of my wife's cost TWICE as much as the car I drive everyday.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. And there are cars that cost 5X as much as my house.

That doesn't mean I have to drive one. So what.., :shrug:

I commuted all four years of college on a pair of Walmart $99 bargain MTN bikes.
After two winters of Clevand salt and snow (destroys bike parts) I'd replace the bike.
I'm confident if I only rode in good weather they would have lasted MUCH longer.
Walmart bikes get the job done and work well for what they are.

Sure, there are $1500-$3000 bikes... and they're nice and the quality increase IS notable.
But for 90% of casual riders getting from point A to Point B a bargain bike fits the bill.

If I bike-commuted to work, I wouldn't spend more than $500-$600 on a decent bike.
That's cheap even compared to a paid-off car when you consider registration, insurance, and fuel.

[jdlh8894]

9. Try competing in a triathalon (or Ironman)

on a $99 Wally special.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. Try competing in the Indy 500 with a Ford Focus...

:shrug:

Point being... few people need the kind of quality bikes costing several hundred (or thousands of) dollars.
We're not talking about extreme mountain biking, Tour De France, road races, or BMX stuntmen here.
Bargain bin bikes work great for vast majority of people who commute inner-city with them.

Giving people access to bikes, high quality or mediocre quality, will have very little impact on car usage.

[era veteran]

8. The Project summary of the shared community bike program in my city

It worked great but theft occurred, going to do it a little differently this year: .............. In May 2007, 80 bikes were placed on the streets of Lexington in an experimental shared bike program known as 'Yellow Bikes'. In the first year, hundreds of individuals signed up for the program completely out-pacing the expectations of its creators. The program was so popular that there were not enough bikes to meet demand. The Yellow Bikes program proved that Lexington's citizens can embrace bike sharing. Unfortunately, the pilot Yellow Bikes program struggled with theft since public access to the free bikes was not controlled.....link;.....http://www.lexingtonky.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7835