Road Cycling · Public discussion

Yellow Bike Programs: How Are They Doing?

Started by Steve McDonald · · Last activity · 11 posts · 814 views

← Back to Road Cycling

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

01 / Original postYellow Bike Programs: How Are They Doing?Steve McDonald · 19 Feb 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11Brian Huntley · 22 Feb 2003

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section
Road Cycling
Published
19 February 2003
Last activity
22 February 2003
Original author
Steve McDonald
Posts
11
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
814
Views / 30 days
0

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Showing posts 1–11 of 11
Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Text size
  1. Original post
    Steve McDonald
    Archived post
    #1

    I don't live in a Yellow Bike city, as most people have their own here. But, in the many cities that
    have started these free, borrow-a-bike programs, how are they getting along? I would hope they have
    expanded and gained more financial support.

    I think I know where the Yellow Bike concept originated. In a remote part of Mongolia, there is
    a large valley that is home to the only species and population of truly wild horses. The people
    that live there are peaceful vegetarians and have never killed, harrassed or captivated these
    horses. But, they have worked out a very effective, symbiotic relationship with them. Just like
    with a Yellow Bike, if a person wants to travel some distance in the valley, they put a handful
    of grain in a pocket and approach a horse. The horse is unafraid and gets some sweet talk and
    ear scratching. The person then mounts the horse bareback and is carried to the desired
    destination. After dismounting, the person feeds the grain to the horse. This equine taxi
    system has existed as long as people and horses have been here and both sides seem quite
    pleased with the arrangement.

    Steve McDonald

    Report
  2. Zoot Katz
    Archived post
    #2

    Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:48:31 -0800 (PST), <[email hidden]>,

    (Steve McDonald) said:

    I don't live in a Yellow Bike city, as most people have their own here. But, in the many
    cities that have started these free, borrow-a-bike programs, how are they getting along? I
    would hope they have expanded and gained more financial support.

    The "yellow and purple bike" program at UBC is in its fifth year and still going strong. It's
    supported by the Alma Mater Society and other donations. There's almost 300 bikes in the fleet now.
    --
    zk

    Report
  3. nospam
    Archived post
    #3

    Where I live, the city is sponsoring such a program. The bikes have electric assist and are
    appreantly very nice to ride. I wouldn't know as most of the time I see them locked up in bagel and
    coffee shops in the back. Seems the delivery guys think these bikes are "theirs" and keep them for
    themselves. I thought the whole idea was for EVERRYONE to get to use these. I don't know what the
    answer to this is, whether to fine people using them for commercial usage or to just get more bikes.

    Report
  4. Mike Jacoubowsk
    Archived post
    #4
    Quoted message said:

    Where I live, the city is sponsoring such a program. The bikes have


    electric

    Quoted message said:

    assist and are appreantly very nice to ride. I wouldn't know as most of


    the

    Quoted message said:

    time I see them locked up in bagel and coffee shops in the back. Seems the delivery guys think
    these bikes are "theirs" and keep them for themselves.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    thought the whole idea was for EVERRYONE to get to use these. I don't know what the answer to this
    is, whether to fine people using them for commercial usage or to just get more bikes.

    Part of the answer is to name the city, and properly expose the problem to the light of day.

    If I were in charge of such a program, and the bikes were supposed to be freely available for anyone
    to use at any time, I'd make sure the police have bolt cutters and liberate every one they find
    locked up. Leave the bike there, but at least someone's out the price of a lock. Eventually they'll
    get the message.

    --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.com

    <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Where I live, the city is sponsoring such a program. The bikes have


    electric

    Quoted message said:

    assist and are appreantly very nice to ride. I wouldn't know as most of


    the

    Quoted message said:

    time I see them locked up in bagel and coffee shops in the back. Seems the delivery guys think
    these bikes are "theirs" and keep them for themselves.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    thought the whole idea was for EVERRYONE to get to use these. I don't know what the answer to this
    is, whether to fine people using them for commercial usage or to just get more bikes.

    Report
  5. nospam
    Archived post
    #5

    Fort Collins, Colorado

    Report
  6. Zoot Katz
    Archived post
    #6
    Fri said:

    Fort Collins, Colorado

    ci.fort-collins.co.usfreewheels.php

    "Businesses who want to participate in our "yellow bikes" program - some equipped with electric
    assist motors - commit to using the bicycles for errands, deliveries, traveling to and from meetings
    - short trips that pollute the most and are the easiest to accomplish on a bicycle"

    From the way it sounds, Rocky Mountain Bagel Works is one of the businesses committed to the
    "Freewheels" program and are therefore entitled to use these electric bicycles for deliveries.
    --
    zk

    Report
  7. Dave Mausner
    Archived post
    #7

    northwestern university (chicago area) had a purple bike program in the early seventies. every
    single one of the 100 purple bikes disappeared from circulation within a few days and were never
    seen again. the program was never repeated.

    --
    Dave Mausner / v.+1-708-848-2775 / f.+1-708-848-2569 / c.+1-312-wake-my-i

    "Steve McDonald" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    I don't live in a Yellow Bike city, as most people have their own here. But, in the many
    cities that have started these free, borrow-a-bike programs, how are they getting along? I
    would hope they have expanded and gained more financial support.

    Report
  8. nospam
    Archived post
    #8
    Quoted message said:

    "Businesses who want to participate in our "yellow bikes" program - some equipped with electric
    assist motors - commit to using the bicycles for errands, deliveries, traveling to and from
    meetings - short trips that pollute the most and are the easiest to accomplish on a bicycle"

    From the way it sounds, Rocky Mountain Bagel Works is one of the businesses committed to the
    "Freewheels" program and are therefore entitled to use these electric bicycles for deliveries.

    My bad. I guess I shoulda read the official line. I stand corrected. Still, when I talk to people
    about the yellow bikes, the general opinion is that they can never find one available. I did see ONE
    the other day, and was wondering where the person was going. Would like to try one eventually.

    Report
  9. Zoot Katz
    Archived post
    #9
    Fri said:
    Quoted message said:

    "Businesses who want to participate in our "yellow bikes" program - some equipped with electric
    assist motors - commit to using the bicycles for errands, deliveries, traveling to and from
    meetings - short trips that pollute the most and are the easiest to accomplish on a bicycle"

    From the way it sounds, Rocky Mountain Bagel Works is one of the businesses committed to the
    "Freewheels" program and are therefore entitled to use these electric bicycles for deliveries.

    My bad. I guess I shoulda read the official line. I stand corrected. Still, when I talk to people
    about the yellow bikes, the general opinion is that they can never find one available. I did see
    ONE the other day, and was wondering where the person was going. Would like to try one eventually.

    Maybe connect with city hall to find out more.

    The "yellow and purple" bike program at UBC requires you get a key for the bikes which are secured
    with identically keyed locks. To get a key you become a member of the co-op which maintains the
    bikes. You can become a member by making a donation or volunteering.
    --
    zk

    Report
  10. Nospam
    Archived post
    #10
    Quoted message said:

    The "yellow and purple" bike program at UBC requires you get a key for the bikes which are secured
    with identically keyed locks. To get a key you become a member of the co-op which maintains the
    bikes. You can become a member by making a donation or volunteering.

    Now that makes total sense. I would definitely help a program like this by volunteering my time or
    some cash.

    Report
  11. Brian Huntley
    Archived post
    #11
    Zoot Katz said:


    The "yellow and purple" bike program at UBC requires you get a key for the bikes which are secured
    with identically keyed locks. To get a key you become a member of the co-op which maintains the
    bikes. You can become a member by making a donation or volunteering.

    That's how the Toronto one works - $25 a year, or 4 hours work. I'm not sure about the keyed-alike
    locks part, though. There's about 10-12 pickup spots for the bikes, mostly in the west end of
    downtown, and I see the bikes in use all the time.

    Report

Keep exploring

Browse the sectionRoad Cycling Return to CyclingForumsStart at the home page Search discussionsFind another thread

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.