Bike Sharing Programs (part 4 of 4)

February 17, 2010 – 5:33 pm

…I give to you, the final chapter of Bike Sharing Programs…

Formed in 2009 is the SAMBA program in Rio de Janeiro and operates in a similar way to the German “Call A Bike” programs except with mobile phones instead of public phone booths (although that is an option if the user does not have their mobile on their person), although its not as popular as its phone-based counterparts.  The program requires registration beforehand.  Once that is done the user can obtain a code to unlock a bike at a station.  Once they have the bike they can relock it anywhere to take a break (to enjoy a delicious meal at a Brazilian steak house perhaps) by obtaining another code from their mobile.  The first thirty minutes are free then about €2.00 for the next hour then about €3.00 per hour after that.  The payment schedule combined with the required registration beforehand means the program is most useful for commuters and the rental stations are open from 6AM to 10PM in accordance with this, however stations are only located along the beach promenade of Copacabana.  This contradicts other aspects of the program because this placement leads it to be useful mostly to tourist who flock to the area.  This could account for the programs low popularity.  The biggest reason for its lack of popularity is the culture in Rio de Janeiro where as a result of overcrowding most drivers do not always respect the bike lanes and are not very bike friendly in general.

Staying in the Western hemisphere we have the Bixi program in Montreal, Canada.  The program launched in 2009 continues many of the trends from earlier bike sharing programs, with a free half hour and differentiated subscription plans for a week a month and a year.  The program requires a significant deposit of $CDN 150 for each rental and the steeply increasing hourly rates encourage a quick turnover of the bikes making the program most useful to daily commuters.  The main differentiator for the Bixi program is that the stations where the bikes are stored are solar powered making it one of the “greenest” programs.  In addition each bike has its own built in anti-theft mechanism.

The Vilo! program in Brussels, Belgium is where someone can rent a bike 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  With bikes available at 180 stations around the city users can rent them using one of three subscription plans for one day seven days and one year.  As with most other programs the first half hour is free.  The next half hour is €0.50 the second is €1.00, and the third and beyond is €2.00 each.

Dublin Bikes formed in 2009 in Dublin, Ireland, offers nothing really new to the world of bike sharing in terms of sales strategies or technologies, however it has brought some much needed publicity as the program has proven quite popular.  Although bikes are not available to rent 24 hours a day (they can be rented from 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM) they can be returned at any time, making it a very convenient program. It continues the trend in pricing favoring the short commuter with expensive per half hourly rates (up to €6.50) and requiring a €150 guarantee to rent a bike.

The OYBike program in London, UK uses a more hybridized payment schedule with short-term plans that cater to tourists well and a long-term plan that serves commuters well.  The first short-term plan is good for one day costs £5 with no additional charges for hourly usage.  The second costs the same but is good for a week but hourly charges apply.  The long-term plan is good for a year and costs £18 with hourly charges. The hourly charges include a free half hour followed by £0.50 per half hour up to do a daily maximum of £5.00.  Another unique feature of the program that is that it uses chainless bikes in an effort to keep users pant legs clean of chain grease.

To wrap up those programs in progress we have Roma’n’Bike in Rome, Italy.  This program is open to residents only who must register ahead of time to obtain a SmartCard that is needed to unlock the bikes.  The steeply increasing half hourly rates clearly cater to daily commuters with an initial free half hour, however climbing to €4.00 per half hour after one hour.  Registration costs €5.00 which grants the subscriber access to 200 bikes at 19 locations.

Upcoming programs include one in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States and one in Melbourne, Australia.  There are many other programs that did not make the above list as I intended to simply give an overview and hopefully a brief look at the evolution of bike sharing programs.  If you have any you would like to see profiled please simply leave a comment requesting that and I’ll do my best to get you the information you want.  In addition if you have any additional information you want to share feel free to post a comment with that whether it be a new or planned program or your personal experience about one of the programs above I would really appreciate if you could share that.

differentiator

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Bike Sharing Programs (part 3 of 4)

February 12, 2010 – 6:44 pm

Welcome back!  For part 3 we return to France in Montpellier’s  Vélomagg’ which appears to be specifically designed for tourists.  Its pay schedule is one that caters to people visiting and looking for an easy way to get around town at a very reasonable price with four hours costing just €1.00 and the whole day costing €2.00.  Since its inauguration in 2007 the program has over 2000 bikes at 50 rental stations around the city.

Next we stay in France for what is probably the most well-known bike sharing program in the world, the Vélib’ program in Paris.  It is so well known that it has become a victim of it own success to some degree and vandals never could resist having their work admired.  In fact of the over 20,000 bikes in the program approximately 11,600 bikes have been stolen or vandalized beyond usability.  The cost of replacing and repairing the bikes has lead to this program being one of the most expensive in the world.  With rates starting at €2.00 per half hour (after an initial free half hour) to €4.00 per half hour after that it is certainly not cheap to rent for an entire day.  This means the short term cards (one and seven days) are more fit for occasional commuters than to vacationers looking for a way to get around for the whole day.  However, its scale means it is one of the most convenient in the world claiming a station every 300 meters.

In 2008 our next program was launched in Luxembourg (city) called the Vel’oh.  It is much smaller in scale compared to the other programs I talked about above with only 250 at 32 stations.  The pay structure is more subscription based suggesting they have catered towards tourists.  It is relatively inexpensive charging €1.00 for a week’s card and €15.00 for a year’s card.  For both the first half hour is free and €1.00 per hour up to a maximum for €5.00 for the maximum rental period of 24 hours.  A deposit is required for a rental.

Also started in 2008 is the Bizi program in Zaragoza, Spain. They have a one year subscription for €20.00 and a 3 day subscription for €5.00.  Both programs have the same hourly payment schedule with a free half hour period and €0.50 per half hour afterwards and a €3.00 penalty after the maximum two hour rental.  If the bike is not returned for 24 hours the user will be charged €200.00.  Unfortunately they do not allow consecutive rentals so the user must wait 10 minutes between rentals.  Clearly the program is catered to residential commuters who use the bikes for short spurts.

Next we travel back to China for the HZ Bike program in Hangzhou.  Started in 2008, the program already has over 10,000 bikes at over 350 stations.  In contrast to the Beijing program the HZ Bike program includes a free half hour period.  It uses RFID cards to unlock the bikes, the cards are integrated with the local public transportation system.  In addition the program includes both short-term and long-term subscription plans

The next program also founded 2008 in Milan, Italy is the BikeMi program.  It is very similar to the Barcelona program in that it only caters to local commuters and excludes visitors with its annual subscription model costing €25.00 per year.

Next is the first bike sharing program on this list from the United States in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Smart Bike D.C. formed in 2008 is the first bike sharing program to use a subscription only payment schedule with no per hour charges.  Subscriptions cost $USD 40.00 per year with a maximum rental period of 24 hours. If a bike is not returned within that period the user will be charged $USD 550 for the replacement.  It is currently a small program with plans to expand with 120 bikes available at 10 stations around the city.  Because it is only $USD 40.00 visitors may consider buying as subscription as Washington D.C. is an expansive city well suited to cycling as far a big city goes.  It would provide a great alternative to subway which doesn’t give you a view of the city as you are underground.  Having been there several times myself I can tell you a view of the city is worth the extra money as I found the city quite beautiful.

Once again check back on Wednesday for the final chapter of this exciting series (well ok at least its mildly interesting).

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Bike Sharing Programs (Part 2 of 4)

February 5, 2010 – 4:40 pm

And now for part two…

We continue with the first of the French programs in the Vélo’v in Lyon started in 2005.  This is the first program to integrate its payment system with the local public transportation system marking an important step forward in the evolution of bike sharing programs.  To rent a bike, the user must pay at a kiosk with each renal area having one, then they have 45 seconds to unlock their chosen bike.  Each bike comes with its own lock so if the user wants to make a stop they may safely lock it to any solid object.  This programs continues the trend of separated payment schedules for tourists and residents (or occasional and heavy users).  Each requires the purchase of card and for every rental under both programs the first half hour is free.  However the short term card is €2.00 and €1.00 for the first charged hour (after the initial free period) and €2.00 an hour thereafter.  The long term card costs €15.00 and the hourly rates are half that of the short term card.  With roughly 340 different stations around the city it is one of the most convenient in the world and remains a model for all current and future bike sharing programs.

In 2006 Sweden launched its own bike sharing program with the Stockholm City Bikes program.  Each station is open form 6AM to 6PM and they encourage frequent turnover of the bikes by limiting each rental period to 3 hours.  If someone wants to rent for  longer than that, they can either pay the fine, in which case they risk having their card blocked after 5 hours or they can return the bike and rent another one.  Each card costs €12.00.  Interestingly the bikes have no locks or locking mechanism and they discourage customers from using their own locks, apparently the Swedish people are very trusting!

Next is the Bicing program in Barcelona, Spain started in 2007.  In the Bicing program we have the first one specifically designed only for residents and specifically to exclude tourists.  Renting is only possible by using a card available on a yearly subscription basis for €24.00.  The high initial fee means a low per use fee where the initial half hour is free and each additional half our is €0.50, perfect for the commuters it caters too.  The scope of the program is quite large with over 3000 bikes at over 400 locations again catering to the commuters.

For the next program we stay in Spain and go to Sevilla to find the Sevici program started in 2007.  Its pay schedule is similar to the Vélo’v program in Lyon where the long-term users pay half they hourly rate that short-term users do.  For the Sevici program a short term card is good for 7 days and the long term card is good for a year and cost €5.00 and €10.00 respectively. Both plans include a free half hour per rental.  In addition at each rental the user must put down a substantial deposit of €150.00 against theft and damages.  The program includes 2,500 bikes at 250 stations.

Check back here on Friday for next installment on Bike Sharing Programs.

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Bike Sharing Programs (part 1 of 4)

February 5, 2010 – 4:30 pm

For the third blog post I wanted to share some information with you about bike sharing programs around the world.  Although there are many many programs, I compiled information about 23 of them plus news of two upcoming programs.  The majority of the programs are in Europe however the idea of bike sharing is picking up momentum in North America and Australia.  Because of its length this piece will be presented in four parts.

The first program I looked into Bycyklen in Copenhagen, Denmark which is widely considered the first modern bike sharing programs.  Since it started in 1995 there are now 2000 bikes available at 110 stations. It has become so popular that is not only a way for tourists to get around but indeed a tourist attraction on its own!  Much like all the programs mentioned in this piece it uses specially designed bikes for the program.  Its unique features in solid rubber tires which make the bikes quite heavy but ensure the durability of the bikes around the city streets.  When the bikes do brake down the program incorporates a training program to train and employ people to repair the bikes.  To rent a bike requires only a coin deposit that is returned when the bike is.  The rental stations are open from 10AM to 6PM and bike usage is restricted to the city limits.  Bycyklen set an example for cities around the world to follow.

The next program I looked at was an innovative program called “Call A Bike” in Munich, Germany started in 2000.  What makes it so innovative is that in order to rent a bike you call a number from a public phone booth and you receive a code to unlock a bike.  Now you can use phone booths for more than just changing into your Superman outfit!  In addition the bikes are not bound to a specific type of lock meaning they can be locked to any light post or traffic post while you go about your day and unlocked with the same code.  It only costs €0.07 an hour, however it does require registration beforehand so it is not ideal for tourists visiting the city.  In 2003 the “Call A Bike” program was initiated in Berlin.

The next program also started in 2000 is Cityräder in Helsinki, Finland the focus of this program is not on innovation in renting the bike but innovating to ensure they are not stolen.  In addition the bikes have been simplified in order to make them easy to service, however these simplified bikes use specialized parts which require specialized tools making it more difficult for thieves to steal parts of the bike or the whole bike itself.  As an additional deterrent to theft, program designers have made the bikes, well, distinctive to say the least.  They are easily recognizable, unique design are a giveaway of the bike’s origin.

Next up is a program started in 2003 that was the first program on this list to have separate payment plans for tourists and residents.  This is the Citybike program in Vienna, Austria.  This unique pay structure allows for a more economically efficient model. This way, occasional users (presumably vacationers) can pay for a day’s use and use the bike to tour the city and not worry about large per hour rates piling up.  At the same time frequent users (daily commuters) can take advantage of a different plan that makes the initial hourly rates cheaper, encouraging quick turnover of the bicycles.  In both plans the first hour is free.  In addition if the riders take a 15 minute break from riding the bike the next hour is then free, much like the free initial hour.  This is perfect to encourage tourists use the bikes as any tourist stop is certainly worth more than a 15 minute look.  For both plans the maximum hourly rate is €4.00 so whether someone takes advantage of the free time, the overall amount will not be unreasonable.  There are more than 60 stations around the city to take out or return a bike to.

The next program I looked into was started in 2005 in Peking (better known as Beijing), China.  Like many other things in China the sheer numbers are the most impressive parts.  In just a couple of years they already have over 8000 bikes at over 100 stations around the city, that’s really impressive.  However, unlike the majority of other programs there is no initial free period when renting.  On the plus side, they do allow for separate programs for short and long-term users, in a similar as Citybike does.  A deposit is required to rent out a bike.

Check back again for part 2 on Wednesday!

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Places to see and things to do

February 3, 2010 – 4:23 pm

For the second blog post I’d like to share a couple of links about things to do in Europe.   The first is from the New York Times it is a slide show about eating in the Alps region of Italy.  The journalist traveled around the region, documenting his meals, be warned, this slide show will make you hungry!  That link can be found here.

The next two links are from a Travel and Leisure piece on the 50 most romantic getaways for 2010.  Although I certainly invite you to peruse the rest of the ideas, we pulled out two in particular that would be of interest to Cyclomundo customers as they are in regions where we offer tours.  The first is a perfume making class in Montpellier, France.  It is a four day class where you make your own perfume, they even give you small 3 oz bottles to take home your perfume in so you don’t have any hassle with the airlines. The Travel and Leisure piece can be found here.

The second link for Travel and Leisure is a small hotel in Venice, a bit off the beaten path and all the better for it. Addition information can be found here.

In a similar vein Forbes has run a piece on the most beautiful cities in the world.  Not surprisingly Venice made that list, that can be found here.  Once again I invite you to browse the entire list as any traveler should really enjoy this one.

If you like (or don’t like) any of links we put here, feel free to leave a comment about it and tell us what you would like to see.

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First Post

January 29, 2010 – 3:45 pm

Welcome to the Official Cyclomundo Blog.  In this space we will keep you informed about the goings on of the company and other things that might interest you.  As this is the first blog I thought it would be appropriate to include an introduction of the team and a brief description of Cyclomundo the company.

My name is Zachary Wolfson and I will be doing the majority of the blogging here at Cyclomundo.  I am actually a student at Northeastern University in Boston taking six months off from school to work full time here in France as a part of our co-op program.  For more on the co-op program read this: www.northeastern.edu/experiential-learning/.  I am a marketing major at Northeastern and I have minors in Economics and Psychology.  During my time at college I have developed an interest in social media as a branch of marketing from past internships and co-ops I have completed.  Here my main responsibility is to build a social media campaign, hence why I will be the one writing the blog.

Working alongside me is Nicholas Stark, a fellow Northeastern Student.  He is a communications major with a concentration in media studies.  His main role is public relations and launching our two new websites.  Of course check back in this space for more information on that exciting news.

Lucile used to be an intern here, much like Nick and myself then decided to join the team full time.  She studied locally at the University of Savoie in Chambery, France where she earned a 5 year masters degree in English and Spanish and Tourism Management.  She is a cyclist herself who likes to occasionally challenge herself with a good climb.

Finally we have our owner and founder, Bruno Toutain who is Cyclomundo.  He lives and breathes the business.  As a boss he is a great one (and I’m not just saying that because I know he is going to read this) he allows a great deal of freedom and even has told us to set aside a couple of hours a week to work on our own projects to help the community.

Now that we have an idea of who is behind the company let me share with you a description of Cyclomundo itself.  Cyclomundo is a one-of-a-kind travel company offering a diverse array of cycling vacations: guided and self-guided, pre-arranged or customized, leisurely or challenging… even some based around cyclosportive events like the Etape du Tour. Our tours are perfect for independent riders, families, friends, and groups of varying levels – you can choose elements “a la carte” for your trip in all regions of France as well as some regions in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Based in France, Cyclomundo was born out of our founder’s life-long love of cycling. Our philosophy is to use local experts who passionately share their heritage with guests and to adhere to the concept of sustainable development. Cyclomundo’s goal is for clients to experience the cultural, regional, historical and gastronomical heritage of their chosen destination and, of course, to have great, healthy fun on their bicycling adventure!

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