Montreal Exports Its Bike-Sharing Program - Green Inc. Blog - NYTimes.com

Montreal Exports Its Bike-Sharing Program

AUGUST 13, 2009, 7:31 AM

Montreal Exports Its Bike-Sharing Program

By IAN AUSTEN

Ian Austen/The New York Times The bike-sharing system pioneered in Montreal will soon be used in Boston and London.

From the beginning, Montreal officials had ambitions for the new Bixi bicycle-sharing system that went beyond the borders of that Canadian city. On Wednesday, Gérald Tremblay, the Montreal’s mayor, announced that the Bixi system will be implemented in Boston and London.

It is not clear at this point if the roll-out in Boston — where local officials are mounting a push for more bike lanes as well — will be on the same scale as Montreal’s system, with hundreds of parking stations and thousands of bicycles. (An alternative model would be SmartBike D.C. in Washington, which uses a different docking technology and has only has 10 stations.)

Boston’s Metropolitan Area Planning Council confirmed that it has selected Bixi to put in place a bike-sharing program. But Amanda Linehan, a spokeswoman for the council, said that Boston and other municipalities must now negotiate contracts for the service.

In a statement, the Public Bike System Company, Montreal’s marketing operation for Bixi, indicated that the Boston system will initially offer 2,500 bikes at 290 stations in downtown Boston.

In England, Bixi’s partner, the Serco Group, said that it has a six-year contract to install 400 docking stations holding about 10,000 bicycles in central London.

Until now, the only other Bixi system was a modest, four-station demonstration project in Ottawa, which is about two hours by car from Montreal.

In selling Bixi, Montreal has emphasized that its solar-powered, WiFi-enabled docking stations are self-contained, eliminating the need for construction or utility work. The design also enables operators to remove the stations for winter, and to relocate them easily in accordance with demand.

CBSM/forums/index.lasso

Fostering Sustainable Behavior

http://www.cbsm.com/forums/index.lasso?cat=Biking

Installing Bike Parking at Schools and the Impact on Student Behavior June, 08 2009 at 10:52 AM posted by 7 comments » We are looking for fact sheets or information to share with schools and others about the impact of bike racks that may be motivational. Such as if you install bike rack/# of bike parking spaces, you will reduce… Category: Tools:

Looking for University Bicycle Stations March, 19 2009 at 06:12 PM posted by Archie Phillips 1 comment » I am seeking information on Bicycle Centers that have been designed as part of green buildings on University campuses. We would like to know: What was the impetus for the Bike Center? How was the… Category: Tools: Web Campaigns Promoting Bicycle Commuting January, 21 2009 at 07:22 AM posted by jmarkelj 5 comments » Hello everybody, I 've just started working on a web-based campaign aiming to promote cycling to work or school (instead of driving). If you are aware any good examples of such campaigns, I would be… Category: Tools:

Bicycle Fleets - Carbon-Free Transport Options for Organisations December, 08 2008 at 06:57 PM posted by ldalehallett 2 comments » Dear All, I am investigating the introduction of a bicycle fleet into our organisation, as an alternative to using cars and taxis. This would offer an important opportunity for staff to actively reduce… Category: Tools:

Ponoko Blog

Ponoko Blog:

Ponoko to Distribute Making to Laser Cutters Worldwide!

July 2nd, 2009 at 7:36 am
This sounds to be an excellent project especially as this would expand your successful business model to support access to affordable 3D fabricating for many of us creatives.
Shain Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I think this is a brilliant Idea! Makers of the world uniting. Let everyone tap into the resources once only accessible to the elite. Manufacturing for the masses.
I can’t wait!
Ponoko and the Fabrication Network Says:
July 15th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
[...] me this is pretty huge news (Fabbaloo found it for me): Ponoko is creating a fabber network. This to me is an absolute thrill.� This will monetize fabricator ownership.� This will [...]"

Rochester Bicycle Ecology

I've created a conceptual map of the Rochester Bicycle Ecology in order to explore the idea that we need a Rochester Bicycle Alliance.

(You can view the map as a full-sized PDF file for full screen viewing by clicking here)

The map is loaded with hyperlinks and background on local organizations and initiatives, thus if you mouse around, you'll read things like...

"Rochester could be home to a number of potentially transformative bike-related initiatives. Even a few of them, implemented and marketed strategically, could turn the region into a world capital of cycling. Individually they are long-shots.

The Rochester Cyclng Alliance could help unify a healthy but non-organizd community and create a constituency for innovative land use, energy independence, transportation policy, healthy living, and urban renewal.

The RCA's first venture could be to bring the Bicycle Film Festival to town (and use it to build a constituency for other initiatives on this map).

I think I'm convinced. How about you?

Add comments or more information, and I'll update the map!

Bicycle Film Festival. Why not here?

http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/

Biking Rochester

Let the Huffington Post know about biking in Rochester. If the RochesterGreenway were a reality, I think we'd be number one in this poll. Check it out.

-The Top 10 U.S. Cities For Biking Americans overwhelmingly continue to drive alone to work. With more than nine out of 10 workers favoring driving. But these 10 cities are definitely taking the initiative to change that. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities for bicycling commuters. And remember to send us a photograph of your favorite biking city. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/05/the-top-10-us-cities-for_n_252092.html

Another Affiliation

People are talking. Excitement builds. The Rochester Greenway is entering a new phase: a steering group (maybe, the “The Rochester Greenway Steering Group”) who will be focusing on moving the project from conceptual stage to something more concrete—or macadam, or plastic, or a new composite altogether. At this point, interested groups are offering their time to see this unique concept get funding through grants, get endorsements from various groups, and provide presentations of this all-weather, carbon-free transportation system.

“I just want to point out to you that this isn’t just about biking. This is truly about a grander purpose happening here. I would just urge you to think about what you want to do. I think it’s important to consider options for the future.”

“There is an opportunity for capitalizing on new materials and ideas and how this will relate to communities. We want to have a plan for some type of sustainable plan in the longer term sense. I think that we should also get students from other regions interested from other campuses. There are many things, which could be woven into the goals. There
is great potential here.”

“This could be a steering group for a future Charrette meeting. There is a reality about a certain threshold for numbers of people working together. I think you bring up
a good point that we should all be in contact with each-other. We should also think about people in the working group. I think it’s very important that there would be a shared vision going in multiple directions. I think we should think of ourselves as being a Greenway Steering group.”

People are talking.

More to come: