Putting the Share into Bike Share

Bike share systems are in place in over 500 cities around the world, and the transformational effect on the urban landscape is massive. They have proved to be a real game-changer in our quest to reestablish the bicycle in our cities.

These photos put the 'share' back into Bike Share. Cycling is sociable and certain citizens take bike sharing to the next level. We've seen it in many cities around the world - people doubling on bike share bikes - but here's a selection of photos that we've captured.

Above... Paris.

Barcelona seems to understand the concept of sharing bike share bikes more than anyone else. Although the design of their Bicing bikes seems to invite passengers more than other bike designs.

In a pinch, even the old Bycykel bikes in Copenhagen could accommodate a friend. Just let your passenger have the seat and you can stand up and pedal.

The same applies to any bike, of course. Like Bicing in Barcelona.

While the Stand and Deliver technique is popular, the Bicing bikes in Barcelona are used in a much more comfortable way.

Just have a seat. Go on a double date.

To share a bike share bike you don't necessarily need to be both ON the bike. Here the young lady is pushing the young man along as they chat.

But sharing the frame seems to be the most widespread technique. And the most enjoyable.

Even if it's standing room only.

Another creative technique.

And why not share the bike on the school run?

Bike Shares Around the Republic, Part I

Barcelona's bicing

We did a tour for a wonderfully attentive and sharp group of visitors from Washington, D.C. earlier this week.  From the Summit Foundation's Sustainable Cities program they were researching and experiencing, well, sustainable cities.  Bike share systems of course play a role and got us thinking, what is it, in the simplest explanation, that makes bike share such A Good Thing.

Copenhagen's City Bike

Boiled down to one easy phrase, it redemocratises the bicycle.  It brings the bicycle back to the city's residents.  It boldly reintroduces the bicycle as urban transport. This is one of the key points in Mikael's keynote, "Four Goals for Promoting Urban Cycling," and features in much of our work at Copenhagenize.

Velib in Paris

Business men and women, Chic'sters, hipsters, going about their daily business with a little two-wheeled help.  No wonder we like it so much.

dublinbikes

Moving people and furniture.  One Montreal Bixi at a time.

St Copenburg / St Petershagen

The Dreams on Wheels exhibition in St. Petersburg was held in a cool old industrial building, home to Loft Project Etagi. A multi-floor, post-soviet building with a host of exhibitions. Super cool place.

The Royal Danish Consulate General, who brought the exhibition, and me, to the city also presented the city with 15 Copenhagen city bikes as a starter's pistol for a bike share programme. One of the bikes will be given to the Governor of the city and another is earmarked for the Russian president, Medvedev.

There were plans for a bike ride through the city with police escort, with just under a thousand people scheduled to show up but, in the best tradition of Russian bureaucracy, the City cancelled it at the last minute. The Russian president was in town. Which kind of trumps all other activities. The bike ride has now been rescheduled for this Sunday.

We still have a great time. I spoke about Danish bicycle culture and everyone tried out the bikes.

Here's hoping for a cracking turnout on the ride this Sunday.




I won't be there, unfortunately, but I certainly have great memories of the city from my visit.

Bicycles in Danish Films

Back in 2003 an indiefilm I directed saw the light of day. Zakka West is the name.

The bicycle has featured prominently in literature, poetry and song in Denmark since it was invented. This continues to this day with pop songs featuring the bike, as well as films and television shows. For example, a popular-ish tv series featuring a female cop has her cycling to the police station each day and picking up her son at kindergarten on the back seat of the bike. The bike is not mentioned at all, it's just a true representation of how Copenhageners get around.

Not surprisingly, Zakka West featured a Copenhagen city bike - Bycyklen - in the climactic scene where Oliver has to cycle around the Vesterbro neighbourhood looking for Lulu in order to declare his love for her.

A lot of the footage for the film was shot from a cargo bike, too. A Copenhagen version of the dolly.

The entire film is available for viewing here. It's feature length and not in the best quality, but it's a sentimental little thing.