Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

City Cycle started today.
Who tried it?
Feedback please?

There are five bikes outside my place. Can't wait to photo the cobwebs on them along with the bat poo and post it to Campbell.

Brisbane isn't Paris, and CityCycle isn't Velib.

I was talking to one of the camera crews at the launch as they all rode through the Squre. Im waiting for the first few to get collected by uses etc as those that joined the first ride were struggling to even stay upright! law suits agogo?

mm, I'm kinda thinking about signing up, not sure if it's worth bothering with though as I already have plenty of bicycles of my own...

I saw a few out and about when i went for a ride after work, but mainly just saw confused looking people staring at the racks of bikes

STOP PRESS: someone touched one in rack across street. Honest, I saw him. He tries to pull a bike out then walked away. Campbell will be proud, no doubt judge it a success.

And we still wait for decent cycle access in this town, better attitude to cyclists in media & motoring public...

I must admit, I was originally cynical about City Cycle, but I could actually see myself using it now. I ride to the city and leave my bike at the Cycle 2 City centre because of a lack of parking at work. My office is at the other end of town, so I still need to get from one end of the city to the other. I usually walk, which takes about 12 minutes, but now I find myself in the city, with my own helmet needing to get from one end of town to the other, which City Cycle would be perfect for. In addition to that we have other offices about the city, which I normally walk to, but in the above scenario, could potentially ride to.

Unfortunately my company has banned us from using them (I already posted about this in the general forum) so the above scenario isn't going to happen, I just wanted to point out that there are people out there who might actually want to use them and for whom the helmet issue isn't a problem.

Does anyone know how you go about using one on a casual basis? Say, if you were a tourist.

I subscribed, picked up my helmet the other day, had to get a cab both ways today as the racks aren't finished yet

Anyway, I've paid, so I'll be finding reasons to use them. In fact might try one tomorrow.

Haven't seen one used in action yet.

I did pass on some feedback to the promoters about the uncyclability of Brisbane, as I see that as the biggest issue, even for an experienced urban cyclist.

Are helmets compulsory in QLD like they are in VIC?

The Melbourne system gets a lot of use (or, more than I expected). People actually bring their own helmet. There are lots and lots of bikes and racks/depots.

E

Yes, helmets are compulsory in QLD too. I'll be taking my spare helmet on the bus with me tomorrow.

I'll be back in town tomorrow and there are heaps of stations around my work. I'll have a gander

It's actually quite popular - the one across from our place has had at least ten bikes come & go that I've seen. Two people riding off with no helmet, so I guess that's not too bad.

Thinking about it, I'd rather ride their bike into the city and lock it there, rather than any of my "good" bikes, taking a huge chain and wearing cleats....

I might even try it after the novelty wears off!

I wonder how fast you could get one going down Cootha?

The Womble wrote:I wonder how fast you could get one going down Cootha?

More to the point how long to get one to the top!

goneriding wrote:

The Womble wrote:I wonder how fast you could get one going down Cootha?

More to the point how long to get one to the top!

All depends on what truck youre carrying it on the back of I guess

I am yet to see anyone on one of the bikes yet.

I did see a few peope around the bikes at QUT Gardens Point, and I have seen a station with bikes then without bikes so something is happening but at the moment it ia all very ghostly.

Donald

I drive around town all day (driver for a catering company) and I have seen 5-10 people getting around most days, since it started. All with helmets.

I noticed today that the tyres still had moulding marks on most of them.

I saw someone riding one today, dressed in business attire, obligatory helmet. They looked pretty happy. I think it will take off. People are definitely using them to travel around in the CBD.


Max

I finally got around to using it for the first time this morning. Not a bad ride, but the gears did slip a little (probably due to the rain) and when they did my feet slipped of the pedals.

Can't wait til they finish building the station just outside my building, it'll make it extremely convenient, as long as I remember to bring my helmet.

Undertow wrote:as long as I remember to bring my helmet.

Buy a cheapie from kmart and keep it at work.

I'm sure it will work.

It would go off if they allowed users to ride on them without helmets. If this was the case I would deffinitely get one. But atm I just don't see a need as if I ever know I will need a bike I'll bring my own, I'm not going to bring a helmet just in case.

The point of this program for me would be they are there when you don't have your bike and you need quick access across town and if this happens you're not going to have a helmet with you.


No helmets works overseas. And before you all call out and say we don't have the facilities, some towns/citys os have less facilities than us and most riders ride on the road yet the drivers know they are there and they are treated above cars, they don't get shouted at, they don't get cut off, when drivers go down to the shops they expect to see bike riders and they live with it, they know shouting at them or cutting them off isn't going to get them anywhere. More facilities would be great but I think driver awareness and the need to push some stupid riders in the river is more important.

/rant

I cbf reading back through that so just ignore it if it doesn't make any sense

Purt wrote: I cbf reading back through that so just ignore it if it doesn't make any sense

I'm going to use that as my signature!

goneriding wrote:

Undertow wrote:as long as I remember to bring my helmet.

Buy a cheapie from kmart and keep it at work.

And when I ride one to the citycat or bus stop on the way home and then forget to take my helmet back to work the next day do I just go and buy another one from kmart?