Comments on: ‘European style’ bike-sharing to begin in Newport

By: Really?

Really? — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:01:55 +0000

This program will be a complete failure, mark my words. I live on Balboa in Newport and here are a few of my thoughts:

1. This program does not cater to the community that lives in Newport it only caters to the tourists that infest our city every summer. Most, if not all locals own bikes or walk anywhere they need to go. Free parking is a premium so no locals drive anywhere after they have found a parking spot.

2. This program decreases the tax revinue generated by the multiple bike stores in the Newport community that rent bikes to tourists. Some have suggested that supporting the local community by purchasing a bike is good, but in this instance we are loosing our tax revinue from bike rentals (granted it is going to a non-profit orgnization).

3. There are constant complaints in the community of the unsafe conditions of the boardwalk due to bikes and high traffic volume. By allowing people that are unfamiliar with the area to ride a free bike with complete disregard for 30 minutes will cause a significant increase in biking volume and accidents on the boardwalk.

4. Bikes are constanly beign stolen in and around Newport. How will this affect our police force when these bikes that are credit card rented must constantly respond to calls for stolen bikes. Most locals that have lived here for any time have had multiple bikes stolen, and very rarely report the theft to the police.

I am dissapointed that we have such simple minded people in our city coucil that would allow this farce of an agenda to be pushed. To actually consider this a “green initiative” is rediculous. I agree that riding bikes is efficient and fun, I absolutely love riding my cruiser around newport. But rather than pushing this agenda should we be looking to increasing the boardwalk space and bike path saftey instead.

Thanks for reading.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:05:44 +0000

I used this system in Paris last year. It works well there and I hope
it is successful here too. A great way to get around!

By: Laughing

Laughing — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:26:25 +0000

This is a great idea. Did the haters think that this would be great for tourists to explore Newport? How about the about of parking more of these bikes would free up? The congestion they will alleviate by taking cars off the road? I do hate it when the main emphasis on bike riding is about being “green”. When riding a bike is fun, great exercise, a great way to get around and the most efficient form of transport known to man. Yes, if you live in Newport, or anywhere else, and want to use a bike on a regular basis, buy one from a local bike shop and support the economy. The fascists who don’t like this idea or hope it will fail because they think that cars are the only means of transportation. Time for me to hop on my bike and run some errands. Share the Road!

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:41:44 +0000

The program is a great idea. We could use this on the east coast.

By: bruce

bruce — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:41:44 +0000

Hope this project goes well for you. With the area and weather, I think this can be a real winner. Love to see it become successful and expanded to our area in the North….

By: Kevin Raymond

Kevin Raymond — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:17:59 +0000

Fine program but where to ride? Still we have drivers on road that seem like they want to push you off road. Some have side swiped me. The first major injury on city bike, what will happen? Who is the one insured and pay medical? What if fatality? City lawsuit? Just some questions about the real world and fantasy of “green.” To be safe on bike would bring out 10 of thousands of bikes people already have sitting in garage/storage collecting dust for fear of getting injured by autos. The weather is great. Not 110 like in Phoenix that I came from, neither 30 in canada.
Fine step in direction of needed change, but way to short if one thinks this is a milestone. Points from 40 years of cycling.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:11:01 +0000

Fine program but where to ride? Still drivers on road that like want to push you off road. Some have side swiped me. The first major injury on city bike, what will happen? How is insured and pay medical? What if fatality? City lawsuit? Just some questions about the real world and fantasy of “green.” To be safe on bike would bring out 10 of thousands of bikes people already have sitting in garage/storage collecting dust for fear of getting injured by autos. The weather is great. Not 110 like in Phoenix that I came from, neither 30 in canada.
Fine step in direction of needed change, but way to short if one thinks this is a milestone. Points from 40 years of cycling.

By: MV gal

MV gal — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:04:24 +0000

Wow, hopefully none of those complainers take out a bike…they probably will be the ones to make the system fail! I think it is a great
idea, and I agree with the guy who says it doesn’t have to be a green thing…biking is just fun, you’re outside, you can pick it up and drop it off without worrying about bringing your own bike and lock. Plus, it will reduce some of the crazy summer traffic on the Peninsula.

Good luck this weekend, I will see you there.

By: jako

jako — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:30:58 +0000

Way to go! It’s great to see someone take initiative to do something positive. I am surprised at some of the negative comments – perhaps they should just pave more of California.

By: occhica

occhica — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:19:57 +0000

I don’t think the system is meant to be used 5 days a week indefinitely. It’s just to fill in the gaps here and there for some people when they’re in a jam, which I think is a good idea. Obviously if you want to ride a bike every day, it would be cheaper to just buy one yourself.