Belfast Bikes

almillar

Thought there would be a thread on this in here by now but there's not so here goes.
Think it's more relevant here than the public transport thread since we're a bit special!
I signed up for this on the second day - £20 for the year, 1st half hour of hire free. Downloaded the Android app and logged in, then went round to the bike station, type the number of the bike into the app, and you hear a click almost immediately as the bike unlocks.
I think it's very good value for anyone working or living around the city centre that wants to get around faster. Big heavy bikes, but treat it as 'faster than walking or being stuck in traffic' instead of 'Giro d'Italia' and you'll be fine. 3 gears and a basket at the front.
Hopefully they'll expand them out a bit soon.
http://www.belfastbikes.co.uk/en/belfast/

D.A.

Still can't believe someone thought it would be a good idea to put a rack at the end of Stewart Street in the Markets. Obviously someone who's never parked their car there...

saverbuyer

I think it's a fantastic idea. Hopefully they (the powers that be) make a real effort, get their fingers out and really push developing real cycling infrastructure in the city. I'm going to sign up this weekend and give it a go. Same scheme in Dublin is £50 I think.




Just a question, I was reading that there's a pre-authorisation on you CC for £120 when you join. Does this last all year? Is it taken from your available credit?

BigAl94

Here's me thinking this was a thread about certain women!

belfastgirl23

I'm delighted by the bike scheme and signed up straight away. Still haven't been on one yet mind you! I'm really hoping they extend it though as I live and work a 10 min walk from the nearest bike docks so it's still of limited use to me....

jenheiffer

Here's a question: Say you take a bike from Station A and want to leave it at Station B - what do you do if there are no empty spaces at Station B?

D.A.

They provide you with a combination lock, so you can lock it to the station when there are no free 'docks'.

Mollyb

I'm sure the bigwigs have thought of this but what happens if someone crashes or dies on one of these bikes because they weren't wearing a helmet? Would anyone be liable?
Also am I right in saying that it's illegal to cycle on footpaths? I'd be terrified of cycling on the roads in Belfast on a bike. There's not enough cycle lanes yet.

D.A.

They have indeed - read the Terms & Conditions on their website.

almillar

I'd like to see one out at Ormeau Park - stacks of people walking down the Ormeau Rd at rush hour, and they could be cycling in the bus lane or on the towpath instead. Putting some stations at points out the Comber Greenway would certainly be a good idea, as well as in both directions out the Lagan towpath.
I think they've got away with it pretty well if ONLY the Markets one is getting vandalised.
Just checked my CC and I'm £20 down for the year, as I should be. I never noticed £120 being pre-authorised.

guiriman

I am in favour of this in general principle, however, the timing sucks. With the new councils I am now a Belfast rate-payer so am paying to subsidise this through my rates. The extent of the bikes is nowhere near where I live and would take several phases of expansion to get out this far. Great for quite a limited part of the population but far too cheap.