Brisbane City Council is in the process of developing a public bike hire scheme that will be similar to successful European models in Paris and Barcelona. Council is currently requesting proposals on the scheme.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman believes it will reap the benefits of providing better air quality, achieving major shifts from private motorised vehicles and improving economic viability for the City.
“We are requesting proposals up until 30 June, with the intention of awarding the contract later in the year and having the bikes up and running by mid next year,” the Lord Mayor said.
Councillor Newman said the scheme could see 2,000 bikes and up to 150 stations in an area extending from Newstead – three kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD – to the University of Queensland, located seven kilometres southwest of the city.
“In the future, I see bikes playing a much greater role in shorter distance travel, and what we are doing is helping to encourage and speed that culture change by providing the infrastructure,” he said. “Grabbing a hire bike is not only a hassle free way to get around, but it’s also a healthy alternative and helps the environment.”
Councillor Newman said the hire scheme will offer a very easy way to travel around town because the stations will be positioned around 300 metres apart.
“Council is currently undertaking a detailed station allocation study, with the successful contractor responsible for provision of the bikes, stations, safety gear and insurance,” he said. “I expect people will see how easy it is to get around the city by bike and will naturally use the car less for quick trips down to the shops and other short journeys.”
Councillor Newman said public bike schemes have eased congestion in other cities around the world by reducing demand on both roads and public transport systems.
The City of Paris introduced the ‘Velib’ system, meaning bicycle freedom. It is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week and involves 20,000 bicycles doing an average of 70,000 trips per day.
The City of Paris believes the system works because it is convenient and very cheap, with the first half hour free. After this, users can take as many rides as they like for $1.50 a day, providing each use is less than half an hour.
Users can either obtain a membership card or use their credit card in an ATM like machine, which automatically debits the bike hire fee. A $200 bond is also taken from the card, to prevent bicycles from being stolen. Once the card is inserted at the Velib station, the machine assigns a number and the bike is released from the corresponding terminal.
Paris has now made further changes to reflect the popularity of Velib, such as increased police patrols on roller blades and bicycles to remind cyclists to be responsible.
