Comments on: BIXI Bike-Share Coming to the Twin Cities

By: john

john — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:04:26 +0000

used bixi in montreal. it sucked! many of the touch screens were broken, and we got stranded at the most distant station. the system wouldn’t give us bikes to ride. beware!

By: Two-Wheel Revolution: Bikesharing Takes Off | TheCityFix DC

Two-Wheel Revolution: Bikesharing Takes Off | TheCityFix DC — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:04:03 +0000

[...] over as the nation’s largest bike-share program. Like D.C. and Arlington, Minneapolis also chose Bixi to provide its [...]

By: liberator

liberator — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:34:45 +0000

They have this exact system in Montréal, Canada. It’s where it started and it works great. There is actually many security features (such as a GPS that locks breaks when outside the city) in these bikes that prevent them from being stolen. As well, all the parts are non-standard and so cannot be used in other bikes. This makes them less attractive to theives. However, the people in Montréal are probably much different (more liberal) than in America. But it could certainly be a success for those who commute to work.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:30:36 +0000

Oh, I disagree — the Velib system is wildly successful, with over 42 million uses as of May 2009. Yes, there have been problems with vandalism, theft, and some financial snafus, but the concept is sound. And there are still plenty of bikes available for use.

We did an “insider’s look” on the Velib system last year:
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2009/05/28/an-insiders-look-at-the-paris-velib-bikeshare-program/

Those same concerns were addressed then, but it appears that the problems are greatly outweighed by the successes.

By: Rider

Rider — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:50:07 +0000

This share a bike thing … it didn’t work out so well in Paris.

Though the rides were popular, Paris lowlifes stole the bikes, trashed the bikes, etc.

Is Minneapolis doing something different?

I hope it works out — great addition to city life.

By: Raiyn

Raiyn — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:51:01 +0000

Time and money Ghost. Time and Money

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:59:00 +0000

Relocating in summer would definitely be the plan…

I lived in Kansas as a kid, so I have experienced some brutal winter weather. That was a LONG time ago.

Arrowhead region….that would be where the Arrowhead 135 is held, I suppose. Anyone want to field a team?

By: Raiyn

Raiyn — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:49:58 +0000

@ Ghost
Ya sure you betcha. (No I don’t actually say that except in jest). I’d mentioned it before on other sites, but it’s a big ‘net. As for the winters: What you’d need to do is move up during the summer (which can be just as hot as FL) and allow yourself to acclimate gradually. I would NEVER suggest moving from FL to MN in winter – you’ll psyche yourself out and it’ll be the most miserable thing ever.

I grew up on the Iron Range in what’s known as the Arrowhead region (that’s all I’m saying in public) so I can talk about severe winter conditions with some measure of authority (it’s usually 10 to 30 degrees colder with more snow than the Cities ever get)

@Iron_Man
Not me man, I’d be out on a Pugsley or a studded tire Salsa Vaya (not out yet, but man I’d love to get my hands on one) depending on conditions.

By: Iron_Man

Iron_Man — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:57:08 +0000

Ghost and Raiyn, you cold move up there and start up a XCountrySkiCommuters.com blog for six months out of the year.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:58:46 +0000

Raiyn, you’re from Minnesota? Did not know that…I spent a lot of time in Minneapolis as a kid, as my father is from there. My wife lived there for several years and has been trying to convince me to relocate there — and that I would survive an MN winter despite my deeply Southern upbringing.