Although Copenhagen, which launched its Bycykler Kobenhavn as early as 1995, is a pioneering figure in the world of two-wheeled sustainable mobility, the whole of Europe quickly started riding this wave of bike-sharing system during the 2000s. Moreover, the success since 2007 of Velib' in Paris, where no fewer than 750 stations offer 19,600 bicycles across the capital, was a source of inspiration to London, which launched its own bike-sharing system, Barclays Cycle Hire in July 2010.
And what’s the situation in North America? It’s no surprise that the trailblazing city there is the green Montreal, which had ambitious plans in favour of bicycles in place as of 2008. The Bixi system saw the day in autumn 2008 and encouraged both tourists and inhabitants to use a network of bicycle paths that was already widespread across the city.
United States: birth of bicycle culture
In the United States, Portland is exceptional, with a biking culture that has become the identity of a metropolis with over 400 km (250 miles) of paths accessible for bicycles. Quite surprisingly, the city has yet to develop its own bike-sharing system. However, the visionary Mark Twain was suggesting as far back as 1895 that the city buy bicycles and rent them out to its inhabitants in order to pay for the condition of the streets!
For everywhere else in United States though, 2010 marks the arrival of a new era: it is, decidedly, the year of the
bike-sharing system.
We welcome in fact the implementation of many systems honouring the bicycle. Denver innovated first: the “Mile High City” symbolically chose Earth Day, the 22nd April 2010, to unveil its Denver B-Cycle, a system based on the same principles as those of Bixi in Montreal or Velib’ in Paris.
As we approach the end of summer 2010, Des Moines and Chicago have also joined the race, very recently inaugurating their own B-Cycles. Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, even declared that he wants to make ‘Windy City’ the most “bike-friendly” city in the United States. And in September, Washington DC will unveil its own bike-sharing system, that you can find out about in a sneak preview here . San Francisco and Seattle, which are already recognised as exemplary cities in terms of mobility are also both working on their urban bike sharing systems.
Even New York, although criticised by cyclists because of the dangers posed by riding through the Big Apple, has announced that it wants to become involved in a bike-sharing system project as of this autumn. There will initially be 10,500 bicycles, a figure that could quickly increase to 49,000 if the project is successful.
Citizen initiatives for two-wheelers
Although these bike sharing systems are not yet in place in all large American cities, we can welcome many citizen initiatives. Thus, in Minneapolis, the Nice Ride Minnesota , a non-profit organisation, ran the city’s bike sharing system for a long time before linking up with the Bixi system in order to extend the urban facilities.
On American campuses, there are also more and more self-managed bike-sharing systems, such as Recycles in Chicago or the Orange Bike Program in Bowling Green. And in medium-sized towns, residents are also getting involved in with sustainable mobility on bicycles, as in Reno , where everyone is being asked to express their preferences for the bicycle paths of the future!
According to the Mayor of Denver, the self-service bicycle represents a way of "helping to improve the general health of Americans and of reducing our carbon footprint". This is an ambitious programme commensurate with the bicycle, which seems to be establishing itself on a permanent basis in the heart of America.
In a few years, Kaohsiung, the second-largest agglomeration in Taiwan, has entered the ranks of the most innovative cities in terms of sustainable transport: we focus on this inspiring example.
