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@A_EF
The Paris scheme is different to the UK ones in that it's primarily an opportunity to gain public space for adverting and just happens to be using bike hire schemes as a front to get that. Great if it works.
We have one just started in Bristol but it's also not based on the advertising supported model. Instead its backed by "First (read that as 'Worst') Great Western" who run (read that as strangle and extort) Bristols public transport, some council money (taxes) and money from University Of West Of England (taxes too). Hmm .. why would First Great western want to be involved and then not allow a hire hub to be insalled at train stations they operate from? Almost as if they don't want it to work?
Apparently there was a lot of interest from J C Decaux and Clear Channel in backing it. Wonder why?
It's not surprising to hear that the Paris bikes are vandalised,left in disrepair etc. The bike scheme isn't reallyJ C Decaux's real interest, it's the space they get through backing it.
Guardian was unimpressed with Bristol's new "Hourbike" scheme...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/21/bicycle-scheme-bristol-ride-go
Contrary to what they say there are actually lots of flat areas in Bristol. I would say that 90 percent of my journeys by bike never encounter hills. Of course it is possible to find very steep hills if you want to in Bristol.
If Hourbike fails in Bristol it won't be because of the hills.