9 Oct 2010: SEQ: CityCycle scheme welcomed!

[ozbob]

Media Release 9 October 2010

SEQ: CityCycle scheme welcomed!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the introduction of the CityCycle scheme for Brisbane and is encouraged by the interest. Indeed a number or Rail Back on Track members have tested or subscribed to the scheme (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track is grateful for the initiative by the Brisbane City Council in introducing the CityCycle public bicycle hire scheme in Brisbane. Now more people can get around on a bicycle."

"A CityCycle scheme may also be a potential draw-card for places like the Gold or Sunshine Coasts, although local conditions and salty sea air need to be taken into consideration. Further efforts could be made to allow people who already have a bicycle find a bicycle park easily, and there is still wide scope for proper bicycle-rail and bicycle-bus integration in Brisbane (2)."

"Compulsory helmet laws may act as a disincentive to maximum uptake.  Further thought and consultation with bicycle user groups is needed to come up with a convenient helmet scheme complementary with the bicycles as needed."

References:

1. CityCycle articles discussion  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4398.0

2. CityCycle- a cheap bicycle-rail integration solution?  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4598.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4398.0

[ozbob]

One of suggestions above ... 

come up with a convenient helmet scheme complementary with the bicycles as needed."

Melbourne has shown a lead here ..

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Helmet hire plan aimed at boosting bike shares
Ashley Argoon
October 14, 2010

THE state government has moved to address the slow uptake of its $5.5 million Bike Share scheme by making helmets available from vending machines.

The poor adoption of the CBD bike-hire scheme, since it was launched in May, has been blamed on the lack of helmets and the prospect of a $146 fine for riding without protective headwear.

The helmets will cost $5 and can be returned at 7-Eleven stores for cleaning, disinfection and lining replacement. Riders returning the helmets will receive $3.

The government is subsidising the cost of the helmets, with the true cost of each helmet being about $13.

''The number of people riding these bikes is going up 30 per cent every month and we expect that with the warmer weather and the new helmet availability these numbers will go up even further,'' Roads Minister Tim Pallas said.

Bicycle Victoria chief executive Harry Barber said the helmets were a positive step but the location of the bike stations was a problem that needed to be addressed. ''At the moment, the locations are characterised by where they would fit as opposed to where they would best go,'' Mr Barber said.

RACV spokesman Gordon Oakley said the helmets were being made available in response to requests from tourists wanting spontaneous use of the bikes, and had been delayed by a study of how best to introduce them. ''We always planned to trial helmets at some stage; it's just taken us this long to organise,'' he said.

Melbourne is the only city in the world to have introduced a bike-share scheme and retain its compulsory helmet laws. Since May, the hire bikes have been used for more than 20,700 trips and the scheme has almost 650 subscribers.

The helmets, made from polystyrene and thermoplastic, will be available from vending machines at Southern Cross Station and Melbourne University, and from 30 7-Eleven stores around the CBD on a three-month trial period.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th October 2010

Greetings,

One of suggestions we made in our media release of the 9th October concerning the CityCycle scheme was the need

"come up with a convenient helmet scheme complementary with the bicycles as needed."

Melbourne has shown a lead here ..  see below.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration

admin@backontrack.org

============================

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Helmet hire plan aimed at boosting bike shares

Helmet hire plan aimed at boosting bike shares
Ashley Argoon
October 14, 2010

THE state government has moved to address the slow uptake of its $5.5 million Bike Share scheme by making helmets available from vending machines.

The poor adoption of the CBD bike-hire scheme, since it was launched in May, has been blamed on the lack of helmets and the prospect of a $146 fine for riding without protective headwear.

The helmets will cost $5 and can be returned at 7-Eleven stores for cleaning, disinfection and lining replacement. Riders returning the helmets will receive $3.

The government is subsidising the cost of the helmets, with the true cost of each helmet being about $13.

''The number of people riding these bikes is going up 30 per cent every month and we expect that with the warmer weather and the new helmet availability these numbers will go up even further,'' Roads Minister Tim Pallas said.

Bicycle Victoria chief executive Harry Barber said the helmets were a positive step but the location of the bike stations was a problem that needed to be addressed. ''At the moment, the locations are characterised by where they would fit as opposed to where they would best go,'' Mr Barber said.

RACV spokesman Gordon Oakley said the helmets were being made available in response to requests from tourists wanting spontaneous use of the bikes, and had been delayed by a study of how best to introduce them. ''We always planned to trial helmets at some stage; it's just taken us this long to organise,'' he said.

Melbourne is the only city in the world to have introduced a bike-share scheme and retain its compulsory helmet laws. Since May, the hire bikes have been used for more than 20,700 trips and the scheme has almost 650 subscribers.

The helmets, made from polystyrene and thermoplastic, will be available from vending machines at Southern Cross Station and Melbourne University, and from 30 7-Eleven stores around the CBD on a three-month trial period.

On 9/10/2010 4:26 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:

Media Release 9 October 2010
 
SEQ: CityCycle scheme welcomed!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the introduction of the CityCycle scheme for Brisbane and is encouraged by the interest. Indeed a number or Rail Back on Track members have tested or subscribed to the scheme (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track is grateful for the initiative by the Brisbane City Council in introducing the CityCycle public bicycle hire scheme in Brisbane. Now more people can get around on a bicycle."

"A CityCycle scheme may also be a potential draw-card for places like the Gold or Sunshine Coasts, although local conditions and salty sea air need to be taken into consideration. Further efforts could be made to allow people who already have a bicycle find a bicycle park easily, and there is still wide scope for proper bicycle-rail and bicycle-bus integration in Brisbane (2)."

"Compulsory helmet laws may act as a disincentive to maximum uptake.  Further thought and consultation with bicycle user groups is needed to come up with a convenient helmet scheme complementary with the bicycles as needed."

References:

1. CityCycle articles discussion http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4398.0

2. CityCycle- a cheap bicycle-rail integration solution? http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4598.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[dwb]

Far easier and more beneficial to just relax compulsory helmet laws... people ride all around the world like this.

[Golliwog]

Yeah, I did a bike tour of Barcelona. Riding without a helmet was weird, I'm just so used to always having a helmet here. But you got used to it. And their bikelanes were similar to ours, but they have them on most streets (in the central area anyway) so unless you ran a red light or someone drives into the bike lane I don't see how you could have an accident.

[ozbob]

Far easier and more beneficial to just relax compulsory helmet laws... people ride all around the world like this.

Unfortunately, Government has indicated they will not do this. And also passed laws to the effect that bicycle passengers must wear helmets and are the responsibility of the rider.  Clearly Victoria is the same. So rather than see the schemes not be successful if some way of providing helmets can be found this can only help.

[ButFli]

Far easier and more beneficial to just relax compulsory helmet laws... people ride all around the world like this.

Unfortunately, Government has indicated they will not do this. And also passed laws to the effect that bicycle passengers must wear helmets and are the responsibility of the rider.  Clearly Victoria is the same. So rather than see the schemes not be successful if some way of providing helmets can be found this can only help.

So does that mean pedo-cab passengers need to wear a helmet? Although they technically aren't bicycles.

[ozbob]

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Cycling/Bike-user-guide/Road-rules-for-cyclists.aspx

They may have an exemption?  Don't know either way.

[#Metro]

Actually, it looks like this might be illegal: see-
(not legal advice though!)

What are the rules about bicycle trailers?

A bicycle rider is prohibited from towing a person in a bicycle trailer unless:

   * the rider is 16 years old, or older; and the person in or on the bicycle trailer is under 10 years old
   * the bicycle trailer can safely carry the person
   * the person in or on the trailer is wearing an approved bicycle helmet securely fitted and fastened on the person's head.

Section 257 of the Queensland Road Rules applies.

Although they look more like tricycles given they have three wheels.

[ozbob]

This post at the Australian Cycling Forum seems to suggest that there might be an exemption.

--> http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=31018#p446670

[ozbob]

Yes, there is an exemption under the legislation

256 Bicycle helmets
(1) The rider of a bicycle must wear an approved bicycle helmet
securely fitted and fastened on the rider's head.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) A passenger on a bicycle that is moving, or is stationary but
not parked, must wear an approved bicycle helmet securely
fitted and fastened on the passenger's head, unless the
passenger is a paying passenger on a three- or four-wheeled
bicycle.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Guess this means if you have a green cab and give a free ride to the Lord Mayor, the Lord Mayor needs to wear a helmet?
:bi

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Search/isysquery/4ae05160-148f-42f9-ae72-a680329e1916/2/doc/TrantOpRURR09.pdf#xml=http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Search/isysquery/4ae05160-148f-42f9-ae72-a680329e1916/2/hilite/

[ButFli]

So howcome the pedo cab companies get an exemption for their customers? How is a passenger in a pedo cab any less at risk from a head injury than a normal cyclist? This stinks of Government favouritism. Who did the pedos have to lobby to get this exemption? Why can't CityCycle get a similar exemption? If CityCycle at a disadvantage because it is backed by a Liberal council?

I would be interested to know when this exemption for pedo cabs came into effect.

[ButFli]

So strangely enough it seems the pedo cab exemption has been there since at least 1999. I don't really want to bother digging any further to find out exactly when. That's well before the most recent interation of Brisbane pedo cabs though.

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 31st October 2010 page 34

Headache over helmets