We have a similar issue with bike rentals/sharing here as well. I appreciate the service and am always happy to see people riding who otherwise might not be. That said, they are the worst offenders when it comes to inattentive riding, not following traffic rules, etc.
Exactly. You know I'm the last person who thinks cyclists should play by the rules of the road made for motor vehicles. It's absurd. But the bike issue here is like a guitarist who likes to riff - that's awesome but you still need to work with the band.
Well certainly I wouldn't want the private-rental bikes to go be banned here in Paris, it's how I go to work every day! Despite all the issues riders - and they're certainly not just tourists here, a long way from it. It means I'd have to buy a bike, as ride to work every single day on a rental, on a super discounted price (32 euros for 400 minutes). Now if I go out and it rains when I hear back home after a concert or dinner with friends, or I feel I've had a drink too many, I can opt to take the metro and not have to hop back on my bike and pedal through a deluge.
But again, it's a good problem to have for the Paris mayor to deal with rather than what car-centric nightmare that existed previously, before the left got hold of the Paris mayoralty.
I could tell that in Paris the private rental bikes are used by locals. Apparently that's not the case in Barcelona. The government quantified it and, based on the time I've spent there, I think they're right.
Here in Valencia, the private biles and ones rented by the endless companies that rent bikes are used largely by tourists. The public system, which is great, is a mix. It's cheap to have an annual membership (like €25-€30) so lots of locals seem to use it. We had memberships our first year until we got our own bikes.
This is part of what I love - the way things develop in different cities. Until the right wing government took over Valencia appeared to be headed in Paris's direction. That alone - eliminating and drastically reducing auto traffic - completely changes the dynamic of how alternative modes exist and interact. With the car prevalent in the mix it changes everything for the worse, as we're seeing in Valencia.
That said, while not Paris this is a great city to ride in. I enjoy the chaos a fair bit!
Love this. In Zurich we are struggling with all the electric scooters - just parked anywhere.
Rather like how London has black cabs and then “Boris bikes”, I think bikes and scooters need careful branding and management. I am in favour of a benign monopoly.
Now this does not require the city to be the operator but to own the rule book.
And this brand management is work-in-progress, never one-and-done.
Disillusioned suburbia dweller here who visited Amsterdam, Cologne, and Bonn. All three have numerous pedestrian/bike only space. Can you help me move past the romanticism of a walkable city where bikes are welcome, and there are plazas and markets created because there are places cars can’t go? What’s the other side of the coin?
eaning I’ll be curious to read anything you observe about civic structure in the city or cities you visit in Germany, similar to how you have observed Paris in your previous writings.
We have a similar issue with bike rentals/sharing here as well. I appreciate the service and am always happy to see people riding who otherwise might not be. That said, they are the worst offenders when it comes to inattentive riding, not following traffic rules, etc.
Exactly. You know I'm the last person who thinks cyclists should play by the rules of the road made for motor vehicles. It's absurd. But the bike issue here is like a guitarist who likes to riff - that's awesome but you still need to work with the band.
Well certainly I wouldn't want the private-rental bikes to go be banned here in Paris, it's how I go to work every day! Despite all the issues riders - and they're certainly not just tourists here, a long way from it. It means I'd have to buy a bike, as ride to work every single day on a rental, on a super discounted price (32 euros for 400 minutes). Now if I go out and it rains when I hear back home after a concert or dinner with friends, or I feel I've had a drink too many, I can opt to take the metro and not have to hop back on my bike and pedal through a deluge.
But again, it's a good problem to have for the Paris mayor to deal with rather than what car-centric nightmare that existed previously, before the left got hold of the Paris mayoralty.
I could tell that in Paris the private rental bikes are used by locals. Apparently that's not the case in Barcelona. The government quantified it and, based on the time I've spent there, I think they're right.
Here in Valencia, the private biles and ones rented by the endless companies that rent bikes are used largely by tourists. The public system, which is great, is a mix. It's cheap to have an annual membership (like €25-€30) so lots of locals seem to use it. We had memberships our first year until we got our own bikes.
This is part of what I love - the way things develop in different cities. Until the right wing government took over Valencia appeared to be headed in Paris's direction. That alone - eliminating and drastically reducing auto traffic - completely changes the dynamic of how alternative modes exist and interact. With the car prevalent in the mix it changes everything for the worse, as we're seeing in Valencia.
That said, while not Paris this is a great city to ride in. I enjoy the chaos a fair bit!
Paris has a lot of progress to make still.
Which is quite a statement, because it has done incredible things. It should be a model for every city, IMO.
You are the expert, not I. Maybe there's not that much progress to make, then. IDK
Love this. In Zurich we are struggling with all the electric scooters - just parked anywhere.
Rather like how London has black cabs and then “Boris bikes”, I think bikes and scooters need careful branding and management. I am in favour of a benign monopoly.
Now this does not require the city to be the operator but to own the rule book.
And this brand management is work-in-progress, never one-and-done.
I will say this - I enjoy the chaos. It's better than nothing happening. I'll take it every day of the week over suburbia.
Disillusioned suburbia dweller here who visited Amsterdam, Cologne, and Bonn. All three have numerous pedestrian/bike only space. Can you help me move past the romanticism of a walkable city where bikes are welcome, and there are plazas and markets created because there are places cars can’t go? What’s the other side of the coin?
It's tough. I wish I had an answer. If you get the bug, she's hard to shake.
I'm excited to go to Germany. I've never been.
I’ll be interested to read your observations should you have any.
In terms of alternatives?
eaning I’ll be curious to read anything you observe about civic structure in the city or cities you visit in Germany, similar to how you have observed Paris in your previous writings.
Ah, I see. I'd love to do that. That's one my main goals for the newsletter really. We'll see.