Wrafter Writes

The Irish would pronouncing it Bicing, with a ‘k’ sound on the c; but Barcelona City Council has decided it should be the ‘s’ sounding version.

Regardless, what we’ve got here is a fantastic initiative. Website located here: www.bicing.com

Don’t think of this as bicycle hire per se, rather public transportation that happens to be a bicycle, and which is integrated into the existing metro, bus and tram public transportation system.

Users pay EUR6 per quarter year, and receive a card to their home address at the outset, with this card users can use any one of the Bicing “stations”.

On May 2nd 2007 there were 10,000 users of the service, and 50 stations; by May 16th, the number of users had increased to 20,000 – it’s ramping up fast, and I’ve encountered many new stations being built in the last week – the initial target for new stations is 100, which will cover the city.

The idea is this: you swipe your card, you get 30 mins, in these 30 minutes you are expected to get from A to B, this 30 minute period is included in your EUR6 per quarter; if you go beyond these 30 minutes it’s 30 cent per half-hour; and if you go beyond 2 hours, then you’re fined EUR3 per half-hour – because using Bicing for more than 2 hours goes beyond reasonable use – remember, think public transportation, not bicycle hire.

Bicycles are basic enough; but a light front and back turns on after dusk automatically; there are three gears on each bicycle, but unfortunately (and a bad oversight, I think), no helmet is provided. When a user wants to return their bicycle, two metal prongs at the front of the bicycle are inserted into reciprocal slots at the station, and the trip comes to an end.

An inspired idea, which is receiving full support from the city council. On a five-minute study in Placa Cataluyna last week six bicycles were taken, and three returned, all by users in the mid-20′s to mid-30′s age bracket.

Some possible problems however:

1. The bicycles already are showing wear and tear. I had to return THREE bicycles at one station last week because the front wheel on EACH was rubbing against the frame. Another had a saddle that kept slipping, and yet another had gears that slipped. Further, the underside of the saddle on every bicycle I’ve used (specifically the vertical bar), which you must hold to adjust the seating to your size, is coal-black and leaves a stain on the hand. In the first month of use, if the bicycles already have problems, then this will be a big thorn in the side of the maintenance crew.

2. In some stations, such as one near the beach at Barceloneta, the stations are often full – for example at 10am on a Saturday morning, when more people are going TO the beach than coming FROM the beach. That means if someone arrives to deposit a bicycle, and there is no space, they must find another station to return the bicycle – that’s not always gonna be easy, particularly if you don’t know where the other stations are. Conversely, sometimes there are no bicycles available to take, as I experienced at Portal de l’Angel yesterday.

3. Clear Channel are involved somehow. Their logo appears on the back of the saddle of each bicycle. They’re inconspicuous right now, but I don’t like Clear Channel, and I’m afraid how this relationship might develop.

4. Barcelona is trying, but there’s simply not enough bicycle lanes in the city centre yet, so users have to jostle for position amongst scooters, cars and buses – it’s not altogether safe.

But overall I commend the service; it’s enviro-friendly, it’s innovative, the branding is excellent, and the novelty factor is high. Plus it’s better being on a bicycle in the sun, than down the depths of the metro sweating in August.

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And there you go. Thanks for reading, perhaps you learned something, even!