Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Shared bicycles

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Shared bicycles

I posted a blog on the shared bicycles used in the University of Singapore. A few commentators like the idea while others felt that it will not work in Singapore. Here are some research about shared bicycles used in other countries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_sharing_system
http://www.veoliatransportation.com/transit/shared-bicycles
http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page59.html
http://www.transalt.org/newsroom/media/1136

Tan Kin Lian

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Rex comments as follows,

Bicycle sharing systems in university campuses work because the traffic drop-nodes are clearly defined, e.g Library, Lab, Computer Centre, Lecture Theatre etc. There is fair inter node travel so the bicycles will on balance be spread fairly evenly between nodes. This is a pre-requisite for the sharing system to be successful.

To apply the bicyle sharing to a satellite town like ang mo kio, it is therefore necessary to first identify optimised drop-nodes. MRT station, yes. But where are the other nodes? the AMK library.. it's not that popular. The AMK park? not many people go there. The food centre? no that's too new the MRT station... The HDB blocks? Yes... but there are so many blocks. It is like a fan-out from the MRT to numerous hdb blocks spread out all over thE place.. how to have a fair sharing system to design the nodes...

Perhaps the bicycle sharing system may better work in Orchard Rd. The nodes are quite simple, ION, 313, Plaza Singapura, City Mall. But yuks! we have another problem there, the cylcists will get squashed by the buses and cars.

So the problem is not technology or economics i think. We have to find an acceptable nodal-model in a relatively safe environment, to apply it successfully.

Actually a bicycle is very cheap, about $60 for a simple bike even with gear (definitely required to go up slope).. this is the best investment, it will give you the freedom to go back to your home doorstep from the target location, it is green, it saves you money, hardly any maintenance.

rex; February 23, 2010 8:22 PM
Anonymous said...: Yes. Definitely a green choice!

If only... if only people were to embrace it fully. The weather and humidity is a big hurdle. With laptop, high heels and neck ties?
Ok, we can all change when we get to the office.. but are there changing rooms?
with sweat? on the MRT?.. even less babies!!

Great idea in Melbourne or Perth where its relatively flat.; February 23, 2010 9:16 PM
Anonymous said...: I studied in NUS. But the NUS campus is very hilly so I don't know how to use bicycles when you have to walk tons and tons of stairs everywhere! The main road goes up and down with the contours and is a bit narrow with buses moving so not very safe on bicycle - you can fall down the hill if you lose control. I used to walk as a form of exercise all the way to Clementi MRT station.; February 24, 2010 9:02 AM
Tan Kin Lian said...: For shared bicycles to work, we need to have special bicycle paths, as provided in the University of Indonesia.

If it is operated in a town, there can be clearly marked places to retrieve and return the shared bicycles.

The shared bicycles should be made of industrial standard, to minimise the need for maintenance. Different sizes of bicycles should be provided for users of different builds, especially length of legs.

The bicycles should be specially colored and protected by legislation against theft or vandalism of public property. There is a record of each person who uses the bicycle, so the users have to take care of public property.

I believe that it is feasible to have shared bicycles. It has worked quite well in some European and North American cities.

Singaporeans are more obedient - so they are likely to follow the rules better than other cities.; February 28, 2010 2:03 PM