Po Campo’s Armitage Rack Satchel on the handlebars
Free Women’s Bike Maintenance Class
Robert Doisneau photographs the French on bikes
Mother’s Day Ride
Lekker Jordaan Bikes – Test ride and review
As a city cyclist, I’ve been very interested to see the construction of the new Melbourne Bike Share scheme in the city’s CBD.
Bike share has been a great success in cities as diverse as Montreal, Paris and Barcelona and residents (rather than tourists generally) have been quick to take up the convenience of a public bike system that allows you to zip short distances in the city.
Melbourne Bike Share is operated by RACV on behalf of the Victorian government and its based on Montreal’s BIXI system (the bikes were also manufactured in Montreal by Devinci). In front of many curious onlookers, I borrowed out a bike from in front of GPO, near the corner of Elizabeth St and Bourke St, to give the system a trial run.
The new bikes look very handsome lined up in a sparkling blue row and are branded heavily with Melbourne Bike Share so hopefully that’s enough to deter bike thieves.
I had no problems using the terminal and inserting my credit card for a day pass ($2.50). The machine spat out a ticket with a 5 digit code consisting only of the digits 1, 2 and 3, which makes it easy to type the code into the console.*
The light flashed green but I had to have a few goes yanking the bike out of the dock before it would release. That could just be a personal foible though.
The bikes are sturdy, step-through bikes with good commuting features:
A chain guard so your pants don’t get grease on them.
A plastic skirt guard for the rear wheel so your clothes don’t get caught between the back wheel and the brakes. Front and rear mud guards protect you from road dirt and big fat tyres help you balance.
A front rack with an elastic strap allows you to put your handbag onto it, but not too much else. I personally would prefer a basket instead of an open rack so you can carry small, loose and unstructured luggage (like a shopping bag of bread, milk and the newspaper) but as you can see my Lemon Straw Deluxe Shopper, which normally sits on my back rack, coincidentally slotted perfectly into the rack.
Brakes worked well, gears worked well, ride was smooth and slow. I also liked that you could report a damaged bike simply by returning the bike to a dock and pressing a red button.
For me the negatives of the bike were minor:
Nimble it is not. There are only three gears, which is generally ok for most commuting. However, these bikes are super-heavy and I’m not confident that I’d be able to get up the hill on Collins Street or William Street without a lot of huffing and puffing (and not rolling backwards). I’ve been spoilt with my light 21-gear bike though.
The bell is bizarre, you kind of have to twist beneath of the handlebars to ring it. Not intuitive for a novice cyclist who’s trying to warn people to get out of the way in a panic.
The ajustable seat is hard and not particularly comfortable. However, you’re not expected to spend hours on the bike so I think it’s perfectly ok.
Bike locks are not provided, so you can only lock the bike in a bike dock. That means you’re restricted to a point-to-point trip.
And then the big negative – you have to bring your own helmet. Bringing your own helmet kind of negates the spontaneity of the whole system, doesn’t it? While I love the idea of a city bike share scheme, I’m not sure how workable it is in practice with mandatory helmet-wearing laws. Melbourne Bike Share doesn’t provide helmets on the spot (annual members have the option to buy a low cost helmet with their subscription) and you’re told to buy a cheap one from a nearby retailer. Unless you’re familiar with bike shops in the CBD, how are you to know where your nearest retailer is? The least they could do is stick a map on the bike dock telling you the locations of the nearest bike shops.
Plus most people who own helmets (and are carrying them around) are very likely to own bikes already – so who exactly is going to using Melbourne Bike Share?
I’m not going to get into a long debate about the pros and cons of compulsory helmet laws. All I’ll say is that I prefer to live in a city that supports bike-sharing than one that doesn’t, as it at least indicates that maybe the government is committed to increasing commuter cycling and to educating the public about the ease and efficiency of using bikes for short trips. Maybe if people use and see people using Melbourne Bike Share, they’ll be encouraged to dig out their old bikes or buy a bike, thereby increasing the number of riders on the road, the impetus to build more cycling infrastructure and cyclist safety generally.
* To rent a bike you need to purchase a subscription online or at a terminal. You receive a 5 digit code or a bike share key, after which time you can take a bike whenever you need, 24/7, and then return the bike within 24 hours at one of the 50 bike stations throughout the city (not necessarily the same one from which you rented the bike). There are corporate memberships but as an individual you can purchase a subscription for a day ($2.50), week ($8) or year ($50). If you keep your trip to under 30 minutes (which is how long it takes me to cycle from the CBD to Fitzroy and back) then that’s all you pay, otherwise additional fees will apply for longer usage. You also need to pay a $300 security deposit for each bike with daily and weekly hire so you need to ensure your credit card has enough credit for the deposit.
Nice review, I like really it. Indeed the helmet is an issue as well the lack of cycle path. But laws are made by politician that ultimately we vote. That’s democracy. Clearly in Melbourne we prefer cars to bicycles.
Did they write that the bike cannot be ridden without helmet (to help foreigners), maybe in 5/6 languages with the mention to the 148$ ticket?
Thanks for this review. In answer to your question who owns a helmet but doesn’t have a bike. Me! I have a tiny apartment with no room at all for a bike inside and I’m not allowed to keep the bike on the apartment grounds outside (don’t get me started) and having had a bike pinched I am reluctant to keep it just chained up on the street. I also live in comfy walking distance of most places so don’t need a bike but I would like to have the chance to ride sometimes. I guess carrying a helmet might be a bit of a hassle, I will see how it goes I guess.
Nice little review (and a darling helmet).
I hope for the best for the Melbourne system. I fell in love with Bixi during a visit to Montreal last Summer – but I, like most users, didn’t have to think about a helmet. So unplanned use for short trips was easy.
I hope you’ll report back on the use in a few weeks.
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Hi Stefano
Thanks for your comment. Yes, in Melbourne and in Australia generally, we are definitely more of a car culture than a bike culture. There is prominent sticker on the front of the bike reminding people that it’s against the law to ride without a helmet but in English only :–) Locals are very nice though as a lady stopped me on the street as I was pulling my bike out, very concerned, to make sure that I was riding with a safety helmet because otherwise I’d get fined.
Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle
Hi Kat
Well it’s great to know that you haven’t discarded your helmet in disgust after all the troubles with your bike! Would love to hear your experiences of Melbourne Bike Share if you get the chance.
CycleStyle
Hi Kenneth
Thanks for your comment – that’s a very good idea, I will try to dig up some usage statistics in a month’s time as a follow up. So far anecdotal feedback has been positive (‘great idea’) but unsure (‘what about the helmet?’ ‘do they provide helmets?’ ‘whaddya mean you have to bring your own helmet?’).
Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle
That’s awesome! Denver started our bike share last month (B-cycle) and it’s been a HIT in the city… so fun!
Hi Joyce,
Nice review. I notice you have a Yakkay helmet which doesn’t meet the Australian Standard (which is a bit of a joke anyway…) – do you ever get stopped by the police so they can check?
I don’t ride with a helmet here in Brisbane. I refuse to as the evidence that bicycle helmets prevent serious injuries does not exist. However they are working on our bike paths and there is a constant police presence (I have been fined $100 once already), so I also bought a Yakkay helmet.
Now I’m just waiting for them to stop me to check that it ‘complies’…
Regards,
Dr Paul Martin
Brisbane, Australia
Hi Dr Paul
Thanks for your comment and welcome to the blog. I have been stopped once for riding with a Yakkay helmet, but that’s because the policeman thought I wasn’t wearing a helmet at all. Once I showed him it was a helmet he was fine with it. I’m not entirely sure how they could check whether it was Australian compliant or not – the sticker of my other helmet has fallen off so in effect my two helmets look and act the same unless you’re extremely knowledgeable about bike helmets or are testing them in a lab.
Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle
Thanks Joyce.
Hopefully they won’t stop me! By the way… very cycle chic in that outfit! I also cycle in my normal clothes (suits, etc) these days.
Happy cycling!
Paul
What a perfectly gorgeous review of the awfully named “Melbourne Bike Share”… catchy, no? Err, no.
Your usage instructions and graphics are far superior to those at the official website. If you visit their site, though, you can complete a survey where you can win an annual pass. https://racv.tippingpoint.com.au/survey/Melbourne_Bike_Share/
I do share the view that the helmet mandate takes the spontaneity out of what could be a fabulous system.
Hi to all keen Bike Sharers,
Wondering amongst those who’ve actually tried to use the system whether anyone can figure out how to hire the bike for usage during a whole week ($8) not a day. I know it has to be returned in the 30 mins and all but how do I get to choose a week, before being asked to confirm my order? Am I missing a step? 1) Start 2)Insert credit card 3)How many bikes? 4)Confirm 1 bike for a day.
Cheers for any help.
Hi Hammer
Thanks for your comments and welcome to the blog. Thanks for passing on the survey link too, the more people that provide feedback the better so that we can have a workable, practical, bike share scheme.
CycleStyle
Bronwyn, I have an answer for you on the week hire question. It’s not yet functioning (according to someone on the BV forums who asked a technician). It will be soon, apparently.
Can’t figure out why you’d hire for a whole week but perhaps it is because there are only a few hubs at present. The thing about hire for a week is that you have to stow the thing yourself and take responsibility for theft. Is it because you would want to take it out of the city? Perhaps that is why they are delaying implementation: afraid that all the bikes will disappear on one-week hires?
Nice review with good photos. I’m looking forward to trying it out myself. Pity they haven’t emailed me yet even though I added myself to their email list to be notified it was being implemented.
As for helmet standards, I expect the standards would possibly say the helmet must be labelled as complying or it doesn’t comply.
I saw some of these in the city a couple of days ago. The only comment I can give is that these bikes look very bad. They look like granny bikes. For the sake of fashion no man would dare ride of these bikes.
The deposit needed and the fact you need a helmet means that a lot of preparation is needed. If you are willing to put in so much preparation for riding then it is more cost-effective to buy your own bike.
Thanks for the review, excellent pictures and clear instruction. They do need to sort out the helmet issue tho. Could they not have a locked bike “basket” with the helmet inside for each bike, adjustable for different sized heads. I also heard they were thinking of a helmet vending machine at the checkpoint, where you could also replace and get a refund when finished with it. I am sure if the Bike Share people don’t come up with something, a few entrepeneurial Melbournites will find a nice little business out of it…..perhaps 7 Eleven stores will suddenly rent out helmets! Now there’s an idea. Cheers.
Hi! Great informative review.
I’m a Bixi user from Montreal. Here the system is really successful. This year, we reached 2 million rides in 2 months so far. There are 5000 bikes and 200 stations on the circuit. There were some vandalism issues during the first year but now it’s all taken care of.
I also own a bike, but I find the bike sharing system to be way more convenient. For one, I live on the third floor, so storage is a nightmare. You never have to think about locking your bike anywhere, getting it stolen, or having to bring it back if you decide to grab a drink after work and would rather use public transit (or a cab) to come back. Of course, these are not race bikes, they were designed for city use (they are sturdy) and short rides (30 minutes or less). I don’t think you’d want to rent one of those for a week. Of course, it’s not custom fitted to everyone, everything is based on “average fits”. But for short rides, it works wonders. It’s funny that some people would say that the bikes look bad, because back in Montreal, it’s pretty fashionable to be seen on one.
As for the helmet issue goes, helmets aren’t mandatory in Montreal, but the Bixi community still struggled with the issue. They decided that everyone should have use their own helmet, even if it’s not that convenient. Many reasons: 1-First and foremost, hygiene. I’m not sure I want head lice from riding a bike (ewww). 2-Security. Once a helmet goes through a shock (collision, throwing it on the pavement), it isn’t safe to wear it anymore. By having many people wear the same helmet, you will never know if it secure. You guys are lucky, you get rebates! We didn’t, bt then agaim, helmets aren’t that expensive. I keep mine attached to my bag at all times when I know I might need to use a Bixi. It’s not convenient, but it’s not that bad.
May bike sharing take over the world!!!
Gyslain
Excellent review of the systems workings and the bikes themselves.
I’ve done a bit of an analysis of the implementation of the system which I think has been horrible.
I’d love it if you gave it a read!
http://www.ikaink.net/blog/?p=696
i just moved workplace from the convenient middle of CBD to the inconvenient very top of CBD. to get to bourke and elizabeth, where most of the good shops/eateries are, now takes a good 10 to 15 mins walk. having only one hour for lunch means i really only have 30 minutes to eat and shop before i have to head back up again.
signed up for the bikeshare. will bring a helmet to work. pray i wont get hit by silly drivers, and hopefully reclaim my 50 or so minutes of lunch. providing it’s not a rainy day
Great review, thanks Joyce. Hoping we find some way around the helmet issue, which seems to be holding the scheme back at the mo.
Love the Yakkay helmet. Any chance you could say where you found it? They seem pretty hard to come by here…
Cheers!
Because there seems to be confusion- as far as I am aware, you don’t so much have a day’s hire or a week’s hire, as you do a day or week’s access to the pod.
If you did a week subscription, you wouldn’t keep the bike out for a week (in fact, that would be insanely expensive- there are excess charges after 30 mins).
Rather, you are meant to ride the bikes from pod to pod, for short trips. You keep the code with you, and you can use it as much as you need to for the entire week.
Hard to see this become a success in Melbourne. The only reason to use this I can think of is if there is a docking station close to your workplace and you don’t ride a bike to work. You can grab one of these bikes to ride around during your lunch break. Or if you regularly have to move between 2 offices which are both close to docking stations. Than this would be a good alternative to public transport.
These don’t have locks, but what is the steel cable loop up the back of the seat post for? If you BYO padlock, I assume this could be used to secure the bike if you want to stop somewhere there’s no station?
Hi Myke
The Yakkay helmet’s from Denmark – unfortunately they’re not available for sale in Australia and Yakkay don’t have any plans at the moment to distribute here.
Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle
Scheme is easy to use and the new $5 helmets from 7/11 shops near the bike pods made all the difference. Great for getting around the city for an appointment etc. On the day subscription once you check the bike in you scan your credit card to get a new pin number at the next bike pod to release a bike rather than reusing the pin number printed on the first use – took a little while to work that one out. So the pin numbers seem to be for a single use/release.
Very convenient – more than I expected.
I use every day to get from the bus to work ….so I carry a helmet. It is then in the office if I want to go to a meeting in town.
I cycle in ordinary gear and as Melbourne’s hills are not that challenging the gears, and my gear are just fine.
I have a key so can use when I am not at work too. Everyone just gets used to me turning up in my girly office gear with a helmet. It is a badge of eco ness to me!
I was in Melbourne for the day and really wanted to try the new bikeshare out. I am very impressed, a $5 helmet (which had better fit thatn a $50 Netti) from 7/11 and 2.50 for the use of the facility and I was able to quickly travel up and down the Yarra. No point even trying to go fast on these but they are comfortable and ideal for tourists to leisurely see the city. It would be great for travelling to and from meetings also. As a Sydneysider I am generally stunned how bike aware and bike friendly Melbourne is and refreshingly I encountered no aggression on this bike at all, perhaps just the odd inquisitive look. Well done!
Angie, thanks for the reply. That makes alot more sense than what I thought it was. And its alot easier to look up that statistic than trying to constantly gauge the actual value of my home.