A Vexing Issue

New York Bike Sharing Could Start in Upper West Side LINK
Bike Sharing not just for French Commies LINK
Velib Article (New York Times) LINK
Articles Addressing Velib:
LINK1(Sustainable Cities Collective)
LINK2(Greenr.ca)
LINK3(Metropolis Mag.com)
LINK4 (Tokyo Green Space)
LINK5 (Treehugger.com)
LINK6 (examiner.com)
LINK7(The Gazette, Montreal)

Melbourne Chooses an Operator LINK




A word from Jonathan Sobin:

I was listening to a radio talk show today and the subject of the conversation was alternative cars and traffic in Los Angeles. Much of the dialogue centered on hybrid and electric cars. The commentators chatted about the technology, market conditions, and consumer trends. They explored tactics to convert more people to alternative cars and the motivations of consumers. Then a listener called in and made the pivotal point in the discussion. He made the common sense observation that even if you convert every driver on the road to an alternative vehicle, you still have the same amount of cars on the road, creating the same amount of congestion! The problem isn’t the type of energy the cars run on; it’s the abundance of the cars themselves. From a traffic and parking perspective, it does not matter if the cars are running on gasoline, electricity, natural gas, plant algae, or rocket fuel – a roadway crammed with cars is a roadway crammed with cars.

The solution to this problem is to convert drivers to other modes of transportation, not other types of cars. One way to accomplish this is to increase the number of people who commute by bicycle. A proven way to increase the number of people who commute by bicycle is to implement a third generation (automated) bike share program. Already utilized in more than 120 cities worldwide, such programs are in the queue for transportation professionals throughout the U.S. By providing on-demand and conveniently located bike stations, consumers can rely on a healthy, sustainable and practical form of transportation that doesn’t clog our roads.

Jonathan Sobin

COO, The Collegiate Bicycle Company

jonathan@collegebikes.com

More to come....

Ecotrip Zotwheels Launch!

The UC-Irvine Zotwheels bicycle sharing program is set to launch.

The program will be a 3rd Generation (automated) bicycle sharing network, utilizing RFID tracking technology. After signing up, students will use their student ID card to check out a bicycle and return it to any station in the network. Using patented software administrators will have the ability to track all the bicycles in real time and collect valuable information.

The Zotwheels program was developed by UC-Irvine Parking and Transportation Department, The Collegiate Bicycle Company, and Central Specialties Limited. Like other programs of its kind it was developed to eliminate single occupancy car trips within and around the campus. Some effects of the program will be: reduced carbon emissions, traffic and parking relief, and increased overall health and physical fitness.

The bicycles are provided by The Collegiate Bicycle Company, a San Diego based company that specializes in meeting bicycle needs on college and university campuses nationwide. Zotwheels bicycles include a custom UCI design, with UCI logos, colors, and graphics. The high quality of the bicycles will help to maintain the program. It has been proven that the quality of the bicycle in the program directly correlates with the success of the program.

The Collegiate Bicycle Company is a leading provider of bicycles for numerous bicycle programs of all shapes and sizes. The company provides custom bicycle designs and consulting to accommodate each client's needs. For more information please contact info@collegebikes.com.

TV COVERAGE:

Are Dedicated Bike Lanes LESS Safe?! LINK
(Very Interesting!)
University of Nebraska Bike Share Program LINK

University of Richmond Bike Share Program LINK
Blue Cross Blue Shield to Sponsor Minneapolis Bike Share LINK
Car Sharing Set to Kick Off in Paris LINK
Philadelphia Ride: NO CARS ALLOWED LINK
Janette Sadik-Khan Transcript Discussing Global Thinking LINK
Bixi Misses a Spot in Montreal LINK

Mississippi State Adding More CollegeBikes! LINK

Battle of the Bike Share LINK
To clarify their article, Ecotrip is the bicycle sharing equipment presented by The Collegiate Bicycle Company. We will be launching our first program in the coming weeks. Our bicycle is not a single speed cruiser. We can customize our bicycle in any way imaginable. Our in house design team will work with our clients to design the best bicycle that community members will ride the most. Questions please feel free to contact me. (matt@collegebikes.com)
Congrats Bucharest LINK
Using Social Networking to Get Stolen Bikes Back LINK
Mayor Gavin Newsome in Mexico City talkin' bike share LINK
Portland Roundup from Demos a few weeks back LINK
(read the comments section)
Whats the most efficient way to transport 300 People? LINK
Bloomberg Loves Bikes (now that he wants to be reelected!) LINK
Un-velib-able! (Well informed comment) LINK
Siemens + Orange County Choppers = Cool ebike LINK
US Colleges Set a Green Course LINK
Sierra Club names top ten eco schools LINK
More riders in NY, Less Casualties? (I question this logic) LINK

New York City Bike Share Demo: Ecotrip™

Come Join Us in New York this weekend for the Summer Streets Program. We will be demonstrating our bike sharing equipment Ecotrip™ on Saturday and Sunday. Our locations are as follows:

August 15th 630am to 1pm - 26th St btwn Park and Lexington

August 15th 3pm to 6pm - Madison Sq/Worth Sq (25th and Broadway)

August 16th 11am to 5pm - McCarren Park (Bedford Ave. and N. 12th St in Brooklyn)

See you there!



In Other Bike Share News:

12 Ways to fix transportation woes(I like number 1) LINK
Seattle Bike Share Demo LINK
Boston Chooses Bixi LINK
London Bike Share LINK (Article obtained through The Bikesharing Blog)
Portland Launches New Website, Survey LINK
Boston Tries to Shed Poor Cycling Reputation(New York Times) LINK
Nicole Freedman: "The grand plan is to change the culture, which is an incredible task."(Amen)
Boston's Unruly Riders (Boston Globe) LINK
Yeah Delaware....KEEP IT UP LINK
Interesting Tree Bike Rack LINK

BIG MONTH in bike sharing

New York Times Reporting on Summer Streets Program LINK
World Streets List (this is a serious list of info) LINK
50000 public bikes in Hangzhou LINK1 LINK2
Obis - New Program to Study Best Practices in Bike Sharing LINK (From Bike-share Blog)
People Just Don't Get It - "Bike Sharing Boosted at Expense of Real Progress" LINK
Response: One can't really argue with the notion that infrastructure is important. But the title of the article itself holds negative connotations and should read: "Bike Sharing IS Real Progress"
Ottawa program a hit LINK
Cool way to display modal split (From Greater Greater Washington) LINK
Bixi going to San Francisco LINK
Awesome Wired article about treating bikes like cars LINK
Cool Rear Light Creates your own bike lane! LINK
Humana takes Freewheelin program to Palo Alto for Senior Games LINK
Question: Are the Freewheelin? or BCycle? Is there a reason for this?
Switzerland Bike Scheme Booms Despite Poor Cycle Paths LINK
Bloomberg: NYC Law Would Require Buildings to Give Bike Access LINK
Charge your Mobile Phone with your Bike?! LINK

Bike Sharing Round Up

Why Vandals Hate Paris Bikes Link
TIGER Funds in DC! Link 1 Link 2
Washington Post: Share and Swap Replaces Buy and Grab Link
Project for Public Spaces - Bike Flocks Link











Smartbike $70,000 for One Station! Link
Bikes Important in Mexico City Green Plan Link
Bike Sharing Spurs Retail Sales (Straight from Gilles Vesco) Link













Portland Looks to Bike Sharing Again Link 1 Link 2
Taiwan Bike Share Using Advantech, ePlatform service provider Link
Bixi Bikes and Helmets Link
Vancouver Bike Tax?! Link
Not Your Father's Bike-Share Program Link

Miscellaneous:
Bernie Madoff serves his time in a LEED-certified prison Link
Why don't you forget how to ride a bike? Link