Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Waste of Money

I am not a fan of bike sharing because I think the service has substantial hidden costs and even in the most succesful cases it is used only by a tiny fraction of a city's population. In Livorno that fraction seems to be zero, for an announced cost of 127.000 Euro.
Bike sharing station, piazza Cavour, Livorno
After eight months it is clear beyond any doubt that nobody uses these bicycles. I have asked around over and over, and no one I know has ever seen one of these things in motion. Even our otherwise hyperactive bicycle thieves and the many restless vandals keep neglecting them.

See also: Five-Thousand-Euro Bicycles - Bike Sharing - A Diabolical Endeavour

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18 comments:

  1. MichelleJuly 23, 2013 at 1:19 AM

    Perfect bicycles all in a row. Strange that nobody uses them.

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  2. RevrunnerJuly 23, 2013 at 2:46 AM

    The program here in Washington, D.C. got off to a slow start, but is now adding bicycles and stations rapidly.

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  3. JackJuly 23, 2013 at 4:03 AM

    It would be interesting to see an objective cost-benefit analysis of bike sharing. It is a "feel good" program. I have never lived in a city with a bike sharing program operating, so I have never had first hand experience. But, from your photo, it does not seem that very many of these bikes are in use at present.

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  4. RandyJuly 23, 2013 at 4:56 AM

    Maybe they need to market to the people that feel strongly about living a more sustainable lifestyle. They do very well in Denver. I would use them if I were there. Maybe more people in your city enjoy walking more.

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  5. Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan bloggerJuly 23, 2013 at 5:37 AM

    Surely there are some tourists who would use them?

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  6. DinaJuly 23, 2013 at 6:18 AM

    Sounds like the city is just trying to keep up with the Joneses.

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  7. MerisiJuly 23, 2013 at 10:11 AM

    Could it be that people don't feel safe riding a bike in the city? It is not enough to offer bikes, bikers need safe road, too.

    Bikes are ubiquitous in Vienna. The city offers special bike routes and goodwill towards those who move in an environmental friendly way. Even tourists use them.

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  8. PerthDailyPhotoJuly 23, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    That does seem like a waste of 127,000 Euros VP.

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  9. UnknownJuly 23, 2013 at 12:53 PM

    I don't think we have bike sharing, but wonder how it would work here...

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  10. HalcyonJuly 23, 2013 at 2:18 PM

    I'm sorry to hear that the program isn't working. I guess the people who really like to bike already have their own. :(

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  11. Luis GomezJuly 23, 2013 at 5:18 PM

    VP the bike sharing system in DC is very successful.

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  12. KarlJuly 23, 2013 at 8:23 PM

    We have also a bike sharing service here in Bolzano, and it seems to work...

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  13. BillJuly 23, 2013 at 9:01 PM

    Be the first....sail gainst the wind, My Friend.

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  14. BirdmanJuly 23, 2013 at 11:25 PM

    I'm with you on that opinion.

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  15. VirginiaJuly 24, 2013 at 5:03 PM

    THey certainly do well in Paris I think. I know a lot of residents that use them as well as tourists. We should have them here as our only transit system...unreliable buses...leaves many people waiting.
    V

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  16. HildaJuly 25, 2013 at 6:43 AM

    Oh dear, now that's a waste.

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  17. Stefan JanssonJuly 28, 2013 at 11:50 AM

    What is wrong with the people of Livorno I wonder?

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  18. Traveling HawkJuly 30, 2013 at 12:35 PM

    It seems that authorities in every country, not just in mine, find ways to waste the public money...

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