Kelowna Bike Share

[Roadhog]

I see our city has decided to jump on the bike share bandwagon. Do they realise that most bike share programs actually lose money, so this is going to cost the taxpayers yet more, for a project that is totally unnecessary. Why would anyone want to share a bike? If you look on CN classifieds there are 24 bikes for sale under $100, so if you want some cheap transport just go buy one of those, then you can ride it free until someone steals it.
The other thing is that most people only ride bikes in Kelowna for 6 months of the year, so we will have dozens of shared bikes sitting for the other 6 months collecting rust. Let's hope the city come to their senses before going ahead with this project, but I am not hopeful. Everything's a good idea when you are playing with taxpayers' money.

[Even Steven]

We already have a highly successful bike sharing program.

It's called "homeless people stealing bikes" program.

[WalterWhite]

Link to story:
https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/2 ... -a-reality

Isn't this supposed to be a private enterprise project?

"In turn this has, for the most part, eliminated the need for a government subsidy for these systems, with regards to both capital and operational costs.

The city is in talks with several companies that provide the service.

[60-YEARS-in-Ktown]

Used only six months of year ?
Hey Buddy , it a bikeshare they are talking about... not a boatshare..

[vinnied]

if this council has it there way, in just a few more years well be wishing we had a bike share program

[featfan]

Drove by a guy yesterday at Sutherland and Pandosy.
I had to turn around and look again.
He had 9 bike frames and assorted rims in a shopping cart.
Must be in a college course on bicycle repair tech.

[aliciamgmt]

(1) http://en-ca.topographic-map.com/places/Kelowna-566211/
where do most people live? uphill
where do most people work? shop? play? downhill
bikeshare makes sense

(2) combined with rideshare ETA 2018
bikeshare in morning from home on the way to work or town
rideshare in afternoon or evening with friends, coworker, Uber, Lyft...

ride one way on paths like Rails with Trails, Kettle Valley Railway, Mission Creek Greenway...

Okanagan is known for tourism. Tourists don't usually shop classifieds for $100 bikes; tourists bikeshare. Bonus bucks; not $ from taxpayers.

(3) seasons
summer bicycle cool in morning but too hot in afternoon
other seasons? sunrise or sunset time change = too cold and/or too dark to ride safely; ride once instead of 0

Used only six months of year ?
Hey Buddy , it a bikeshare they are talking about... not a boatshare..

Vancouver swapped car lanes for bicycle lanes; the city with DOUBLE the rain of London. Kelowna climate is better than that!

(4) theft

We already have a highly successful bike sharing program.
It's called "homeless people stealing bikes" program.

My first bicycle was stolen; that video showed a skilled thief that stole several bikes in moments. My second bicycle had pieces stolen off of it no where near homeless hangouts. My third bicycle was dismantled with pieces stolen through the bars of a closed secured garage. It doesn't matter what lock, where or how lock, how cheap, ugly or featureless a bike is...

(5)

Do they realise that most bike share programs actually lose money

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/201 ... p-your-car
https://www.fastcompany.com/3054254/how ... ved-itself
Add:
+ unlike those URLs, in Canada taxpayers pay healthcare
+ money saved NOT investigating and preventing bike thefts, thanks to bikeshare
+ money saved expanding bicycle commuting versus automobile traffic, ~Vancouver
along with associated air quality improvement

[featfan]

.It doesn't matter what lock, where or how lock, how cheap, ugly or featureless a bike is...

*removed*
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/maste ... 9264p.html
I use this on my seat thru the frame to the rear tire and a heavy chain lock thru the front wheel and frame to a secure area.

[Amarow121]

Pumped about this! We really enjoyed this service while in Europe and have family there who enjoy it as well.
Makes taking transit just that much more accessible too. You can transit in, get a bike and bike the rest of the way to wherever you are going.

Sounds good by me!