There are some magic transport ideas that keep coming around again and again.
They have one thing in common.
They’re impractical.
In this category are the idea of a “water taxi” (not enough landing points), Park and float (too long a journey time and weather dependent), a central “bus station” (the rivers are natural barriers to centralisation) and a cycle hire scheme.
The latter has made its biennial appearance again following at least 7 previous failed attempts to get such a scheme off the ground.
So why is it doomed to failure?
In the past schemes have been hampered by vandalism and theft of cycles. Several cycles ended up at the bottom of the Ouse. Then there were the maintenance and safety issues.
A new scheme being considered by the Council would apparently get over this problem by making the hire (and release) of the bike possible by the use of smart phone technology.
The system is already in use in several larger Cities.
So why would a street rental scheme like this fail in York?
There are two main reasons.
York already has relatively high levels of cycling. Most regular cyclists own a bike. Projects like cycle rescue have made serviceable machines readily available for around £50 a time. The bikes are often traded between students during their stays in the City.
Most of the permanent population have no incentive to rent a bike on a short-term basis, unless they don’t have storage space at their homes. The Council has (rightly) been active in recent years in requiring – as a condition of planning permission for new homes – that a cycle storage space be provided.
They have even provided cycle sheds at some suburban blocks of flats.
The second reason why a cycle hire scheme will not succeed relates to the size of the City. For tourists, pretty much everything is within walking distance.
Visitors who are more active and seeking a cycle ride in the country, are already catered for by commercial outlets.
A day hire, of a good quality bike, can be had for around £20.
The “dock less” bike option being considered by the York Council could cost about 50p for 30 minutes One provider is “OFO” in Cambridge where it claims to have deployed 550 bikes.
Recently an analysis of a “docked” cycle scheme in Lincoln – similar in some ways to York – suggested that only 6, of the 98 bikes made available, were in use
One problem will be the need to provide additional cycle parking in the City. Many of the existing spaces are already congested.
Should we be worried?
Maybe.
The Council is planning to invest £50,000 in the project. The money would be better spent on extending secure cycle parking provision in the City………..or maybe just on improving road and cycle path surfaces.
