As I've mention before, both here and here, DC is supposed to get Smart Bikes as part of their bus shelter deal with Clear Channel. One of the tougher parts of designing the bikes was to make them so distinctive that no one would steal them, but not so ugly that no one would ride them. I think the bikes (pictured here) 
are pretty cool looking. If DC does get them it will be the first city in the US to do so, which brings up the question "will they work here?"
Right now they work in about 17 cities in Europe and Asia, in DC, Bike the Sites seems to be having some success as they go into their 10th season, and a report by a couple of experts in Virginia seems to conclude that it can here work in the US.
In addition to looking good, they're pretty cheap.
Many have an annual membership charge of under $20 and no usage charges as long as the bikes are returned within a specified time.The Clear Channel Adshel system follows this model.
Clear Channel makes most of its money off ads, on both the bicycles and the docking stations and that's what keeps prices down. Since good bike facilities is key to success, one would hope that bicycle rentals will give Clear Channel incentive to help with facilities.
That bike looks like a law suit waiting to happen. Solid wheels will not let wind or bow wakes pass through making those bikes hell on earth to ride.
Posted by: Mike Plakus | February 02, 2006 at 08:15 AM
Yeah, I wouldn't want to do a century on one of these.
Posted by: washcycle | February 02, 2006 at 09:09 AM
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