n
/ 0 1 9
Where’s best
for bikes, then?
New York’s new Citi Bikes are a boon for cyclists, but how
do they stack up against the other big bike schemes?
Launched
May 2013
How much?
US$9.95
(NOK60)/day for unlimited
30-minute rides or US$95
(NOK580) plus tax for
annual membership.
Good because
Lower
Manhattan is surprisingly
bike-friendly, with good
bike lane coverage and an
easy-to-navigate
road system.
But
the bikes are more
expensive for day use
than their Paris and
London equivalents; the
locations only cover Lower
Manhattan (though there
are plans to expand); and
the system can be fiddly
– on a recent trip, we
had some trouble renting
bikes because of issues at
docking stations.
Verdict
citibikenyc.com
Launched
July 2007
How much?
€1.70
(NOK13.5)/day for
unlimited 30-minute rides
or €29 (NOK230) a year.
Good because
The largest
bike-share scheme outside
China is cheap, there are
loads of bikes and central
Paris is stunning to cycle
around. The bikes have
baskets and no big
bank sponsorship.
But
they tend to have
more problems, partly
because they’re older.
Theft has also been
a problem, as has
unavailability of docking
stations. A lot of this is
because the scheme has
been wildly popular.
Verdict
velib.paris.fr
Launched
July 2010
How much?
£2 (NOK18)/
day for unlimited
30-minute rides or £90
(NOK825) a year.
Good because
“Boris
bikes” are good value, the
system works better than
New York’s and there are
lots of docking stations.
But
you take your life into
your hands on London’s
roads, where one-way
systems are confusing,
there are few bike lanes
in central areas, and the
cars come close.
Verdict
tfl.gov.uk
6,000
Bikes
20,000
Bikes
570
Stations covering
much of central
London (Zones 1 & 2)
3,204km
Bike lanes
8,000
Bikes
330
Stations
in Lower
Manhattan
440km
Bike lanes
Citi Bike, New York
Vélib’, Paris
Barclays Cycle Hire, London
480km
Bike lanes
1,800
Stations
n
A
