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FeedGallery: Bicycle Rental & Free Bike Schemes
This gallery was last updated on Thursday 8th October 2009.
Bicycle sharing systems, also known as: Community Bicycle program, Yellow Bicycle programs, White Bicycle programs, public bike, CityBike, "Call a Bike", "Boris Bikes" (in London: Details of the scheme and registration: http://iitm.be/tflbikes) or free bike. There also was a 'Green Bike' scheme in Cambridge in 1993.
See also:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/63/article14.html Velov Scheme in Lyon
The German DB Call a Bike hire bike scheme is centrally run for all large cities and in several ways the opposite to Boris Bikes in London: - the scheme does not use docking stations - bikes come with locks - users locate the nearest ava ... [more]
The German DB Call a Bike hire bike scheme is centrally run for all large cities and in several ways the opposite to Boris Bikes in London: - the scheme does not use docking stations - bikes come with locks - users locate the nearest ava ... [more]
The German DB Call a Bike hire bike scheme is in several ways the antidote to Boris Bikes in London: - the scheme does not use docking stations - bikes come with locks - users locate the nearest available bike through their mobile phone ... [more]
DB Call a Bike hire bikes are dotted all around Cologne (and other German cities). There are no docking stations. The bike is released through a phone call or SMS and can be dropped off anywhere in town. The scheme is in many ways the oppo ... [more]
You can "hire a pair of wheels" on countless spots in most larger German cities. Here a DB "Call a Bike" right in front of Cologne Cathedral, to be unlocked by a phone call.
DB call a bike, bicycle rental scheme at Bremen Main Train Station (Hauptbahnhof). From 6 cent/minute. Maximum €9 /day, see www.callabike.de.
DB Call a Bike, DB bicycle rental scheme at Bremen Main Train Station (Hauptbahnhof): www.callabike.de. Call number on the bike lock to receive unlocking code. Return CallBike to a Bike-Station, lock in. Take receipt code from the lock, cal ... [more]
Rental bicycles covered in snow at Bremen Railway Station. These hire bikes are docked and available year 'round.
Interesting German Railways rental bike outside a Munich museum - not certain which one!
Rental bike with advertising space: Überholen zwecklos! Hier fährt ein künftiger Champion".
Paris has made a major investment in hire bikes. They seem to have forgotten to paint them green though, and you need to pay before using them...
Rail strike in Paris - two Vélib stations (left and right) with virtually no bikes available.
Rail strike in Paris - not a single Vélib bike available (the saddle turned backwards indicates that this one is defective).
Another full Velib stand near the Bastille in Paris, with a cycle track in the foreground, and across the road the Maison Roue Libre, a city/RATP cycle rental project.
Most major French cities now have a Vélib-style cycle hire system - this one is in Lyon.
Instructions on a typical French rental bike (here in Aix-en-Provence). All instructions on the bike, the stand and the screens were in French only. (Click onto the picture to zoom in and read.)
Dijon's cycle rental scheme (VéloDi) is slightly different to most other in France, with bikes being dropped into a dock.
Dijon's cycle rental scheme (VéloDi) is slightly different to most other in France, with bikes being dropped into a dock. Beyond are motorbike spaces and some rather unfriendly-looking bike stands.
Most major French cities now have a Vélib-style cycle hire system - this one is in Aix-en-Provence. It's called V'hello - a pun on vélo (bike).
Free bicycle scheme in Århus, Denmark. These cheap and colourful bikes can be used within town with a 20 Kr deposit coin like a shopping trolley.
Free bicycle scheme in Aarhus (Århus Bycykel), Denmark. These cheap and colourful bikes can be used within town with a DKK 20 coin like a shopping trolley. The bikes are meant for short rides and can be returned at different sites.
These cheap and colourful bikes can be used within town with a DKK 20 coin like a shopping trolley. The bikes are meant for short rides and can be returned at different sites indicated on this map. See also www.aarhusbycykel.dk
Free bicycle scheme in Aarhus (Århus Bycykel; "by" means "city"), Denmark. These cheap and colourful bikes can be used within town with a DKK 20 coin like a shopping trolley. The bikes are meant for short city (by) rides and can be returne ... [more]
The annoying thing about the city cycle hire schemes is that sometimes you want to dump the bike but all the spaces are filled - as this man found out. Behind the camera are loads of normal parking spaces available, see #32447. I think t ... [more]
Bari also has a Velib'-style bike hire scheme - but there are just five stations with ten bikes each, and you have to become a member beforehand.
Unusually, bikes used for the Bari public hire scheme have derailleur gears - hub gears would be more robust.
Dijon's cycle rental scheme (VéloDi) is slightly different to most other in France, with bikes being dropped into a dock. Beyond are motorbike spaces and some rather unfriendly-looking cycle stands.
Many French cities boast bicycle renting schemes. They seem to be well accepted and work well. The bicycles are sturdy (heavy) and don't go far but are properly equipped and very robust.
Bicycle rental scheme "bicloo" in Nantes, France. One day €1, one week €5. Annual subscription €25.
Hire bikes at Brussels Midi station. See also #27612 (snow version, which oddly has fewer bikes!)
More hire bikes in Brussels. The kiosk has the website address for the scheme: http://www.villo.be/
Close up of Villo hire bike. Note the friendly reminder to users "I respect the traffic rules"
Velopop bike rental station; cycle parking 30m beyond; and on four days a week the roads around schools in central Avignon are closed to cars when children are arriving and leaving.
Electro-assisted bikes are now popular with Swiss rental schemes, especially in co-operation with the railways.
Although only a small town, Chalon sur Saone has its own cycle rental system - simpler than the big city schemes, with no fancy docks - you phone this number and are given a code to release a lock on the bike.
Although only a small town, Chalon sur Saone has its own cycle rental system - simpler than the big city schemes, with no fancy docks - you phone this number and are given a code to release a lock on the bike.
Although only a small town, Chalon sur Saone has its own cycle rental system - simpler than the big city schemes, with no fancy docks - you phone this number and are given a code to release a lock on the bike.
Although only a small town, Chalon sur Saone has its own cycle rental system - simpler than the big city schemes, with no fancy docks - you phone this number and are given a code to release a lock on the bike.
Not a VTT (Vélo Tout Terrain or mountainbike) but a VTC - Vélo Tous Chemins or a bike for all roads and tracks - an ideal rental bike for the chemins de halage or towpaths of Burgundy (from the Auxerre tourist office)
Lausanne (Switzerland) has a free bike scheme, but it's not automated like the French rental schemes.
There's a Vélib-style bike rental scheme on Copacabana beach - unfortunately you need to register online first.
There's a Vélib-style bike rental scheme on Copacabana beach - unfortunately you need to register online first.
I'm sure this wasn't open a week ago! New cycle rental shop at Liberdade metro station, Sao Paolo.
Yet another on street automated bike rental scheme. Siracusa, Sicily. Precise location unknown.
SmartBike DC - Vélib-style bike rental scheme (with US-style bikes) in Washington (approximate location).
Cycle hire is available at most Swiss railway stations (with matching cycle helmets, of course)
Huge group of Austrian schoolchildren on hire bikes arriving (accidentally) at the cyclists' breakfast, Bike Week 2009.
This location was set by synchronization with the track at location #18611. Fistral Beach bike hire
Bicycle rental, service and secure cycle parking at the main trainstation in Bremen: ADFC Radstation.
Fahrradstation Oldenburg. Secure bicycle parking at the northern entrance of Oldenburg Hauptbahnhof (main train station). There is free as well as secure cycle parking on each side of the main station.
Secure bicycle parking at the Fahrradstation Oldenburg, at the northern entrance of Oldenburg Hauptbahnhof (main train station). There is free as well as secure cycle parking on each side of the main station.
White bicycles which are free to visitors of the Hoge Veluwe national park near Arnhem, Netherlands.
'Beer Bar Bike' for rent in Munich - also loads of 'normal' rental bikes, and another multi-seater, plus a conference bike (location approximate).
Bainton Bikes Ltd. is a family run bicycle hire company just setting up in Oxford. They recycle second hand abandoned bikes, by completely stripping them, repainting them and replacing all of the parts. www.baintonbikes.com
Bainton Bikes is a family run bicycle hire company just setting up in Oxford. They recycle second hand abandoned bikes, by completely stripping them, repainting them and replacing all of the parts. Kevin Moreland states: "Once they are road ... [more]
Bike Hire in Seville, Spain. 200 pick-up/drop off points around the city. €150 deposit, then €5 per week. The first 30 mins are free, the next hour €1, subsequent hours €2. (Information from Lonely Planet Spain guide). They look bri ... [more]
Bike hire system Girocleta in Gerona near the Costa Brava in Catalunya - http://www.girocleta.cat/
Rental bikes 'parked' at the Island Magic Beach Resort, Caye Caulker, Belize - there are no cars on this island and only a few golf-carts.
An american visitor at the Reading Regatta 2011 with an Oybike rented at Reading Station.
Oybike Rent ''n' Ride, sponsored by First Great Western and operated by "oybike" has a clean shaft drive instead of a chain.
Duck: look out here comes another free bike scheme! Simon Nuttall with an OYBike - an automated bike hire scheme. Could they come back to the city?
Close up of the front of an OYBike - roller brakes, and dynamo lighting. The note in the basket explains how the scheme works.
OYBike parking location near the main BBC studios and White City Tube. See also a review of this scheme at www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/72/article7.html
Nobody seems to know much about this cycle rental demonstration scheme being set up in Bath by the company behind many Italian schemes - there's little information online - www.civitas-initiative.eu/measure_sheet.phtml?lan=en&id=627
Nobody seems to know much about this cycle rental demonstration scheme being set up in Bath by the company behind many Italian schemes - there's little information online - www.civitas-initiative.eu/measure_sheet.phtml?lan=en&id=627
Nobody seems to know much about this cycle rental demonstration scheme being set up in Bath by the company behind many Italian schemes - there's little information online - www.civitas-initiative.eu/measure_sheet.phtml?lan=en&id=627
Nobody seems to know much about this cycle rental demonstration scheme being set up in Bath by the company behind many Italian schemes - there's little information online - www.civitas-initiative.eu/measure_sheet.phtml?lan=en&id=627
Nobody seems to know much about this cycle rental demonstration scheme being set up in Bath by the company behind many Italian schemes - there's little information online - www.civitas-initiative.eu/measure_sheet.phtml?lan=en&id=627
Boris Bikes, Portobello. Details of the scheme and registration: http://iitm.be/tflbikes
Work to install the London Cycle Hire scheme. Lets hope its as successful as http://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/63/article14.html
Boris bikes docking stations near Kings Cross in the afternoon, usually full. Details of the scheme and registration: http://iitm.be/tflbikes
Bikes about to be redistributed from Waterloo; jobs created for 9 people plus a few drivers. See the action in progress on this video: http://cycle.st/p26326
Vast sea of BorisBikes during the 'redistribution' - when a constant stream of users dump their bikes and they are ferried to the other pick up points.
Enjoy this short video of BorisBikes users, parking and continuing their journey to the station. The men in the hi-viz jackets are 'redistributing' the bikes to other locations - its a hive of activity!
A project originating from Cambridge Cycling Campaign // Hosting kindly helped by Mythic Beasts
Short link: http://cycle.st/g104
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