Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012.pdf - Fietsberaad

PUBLIC BIKES AND COMMUTER BIKES
Station bikes in Fredericia are used to encourage
motorists to combine cycling and rail travel
instead of using their car.
COMMUTER BIKES
Commuter bikes are aimed at journeys between
home and work place/educational institution.
They may display a commercial logo and the
project is often sponsored by the employer. These
are typically high quality bicycles. Folding bikes
can be used, the smallest versions of which can
be taken on the train and bus as hand luggage,
which doesn’t require a special ticket.
Aarhus Bike Busters
The city of Aarhus ran a pilot project from May
1995 to May 1996 offering free bicycles and
bus passes to 175 daily Aarhus commuters.
Their motivation was boosted with small gifts,
information and health checkups.
Prior to the project’s initiation, in April 1995,
78% of the participants’ travel activities were by
car and 11% by bicycle. In March 1996 the car
market share was 31% and the bicycle market
share was up to 35%. In September 1996 56%
of the participants’ journeys was by bicycle and
only 43% by car, i.e. 5 times as many bicycle
journeys as before the project.
The conclusion was that it is possible to
significantly change people’s daily transport
habits, but it requires a great deal of
concentrated effort; it is easier to encourage
motorists to use their bicycles than take the bus.
STATION BIKES
Station bikes are located at railway stations and
target the last portion of the journey from train
to workplace or educational institution. The area
within cycling distance is 8 times greater than
the area within walking distance. It takes more or
less the same amount of time to cycle or take the
bus, but many people prefer the freedom of only
having to worry about train schedules. Nationally,
20% of passengers cycle from home to station
while only 5% cycle from the station to their final
destination (workplace or educational institution);
a huge potential lies in encouraging people to
cycle to and from the station.
Aalborg commuter bikes
In 1999 NT Nordjyllands Trafikselskab (Northern
Jutland’s regional bus service) established a
commuter bike/station bike rental system
in Aalborg for DKK 100 per month. 11-22
bikes were rented each month and each bike
was ridden 3-4 km each way. The project
demonstrated that the combination bicycle/public
transport is a feasible alternative to commuting
by passenger car. At the time a rental system
could be established with an initial investment in
the bicycle’s purchase price and a running grant
for operating costs of approx. DKK 900/bicycle/
year including administration and marketing,
and renovation of the bicycle stock every 4 years.
After administration and marketing costs were
deducted, operation of the rental system could
break even with a grant for operating costs of
approx. DKK 350 per bike per year at a rental
charge of DKK 100 per bike per month.
Odense station bikes
In 2010 Odense introduced a station bike system
consisting of 80 bikes. The design resembles
other Danish public bikes but the bikes have 7
gears, bike lights and baskets. A wire lock makes
it possible to lock the bicycle during use. Rental
is paid via mobile access eliminating the need for
dispensing machines on the street.
Station bike stands are located at the central
station and three local stations. The bicycles cost
DKK 1000 per year and may be booked on line
from 1 week – 3 months. The bicycles have to be
returned to the same stand so the user gets the
same bicycle every day.
Fredericia station bikes
Fredericia is a railway junction with many
incoming commuters. In 2011 Fredericia and
DSB (Danish State Railways) wished to study
the potential of train/bicycle integration in
Danish market towns with railway stations. The
target group was people who commuted to
their workplace in Fredericia by car from other
communities. Participants were offered a 3
month loan of a carbon unisex bicycle, lockable
bicycle parking facilities, a helmet and a free
commuter pass for the train.
136 people volunteered and 30 were chosen for
each period.
COMPANY BIKES
Company bikes are aimed at journeys during
working hours. This typically involves staff who
have not cycled to work, but who find it more
practicable to use a bicycle for work related
journeys. Many workplaces have a number of
bikes available for the common use of the staff.
However, there are often difficulties booking
the bicycles or maintaining them properly. If
employers are made more aware of the cost
and health benefits, this may encourage them
to improve the offer. Some bicycle shops are
starting to offer on-site bicycle maintenance at
workplaces.
The Aalborg ABC project
The ABC project (stands for work, home, cycle)
made 35 bicycles available to 9 companies
from May to November, 1996; afterwards the
bicycles would be donated to the company free
of charge if the company had cycled at least
300 km. Bicycle use was registered in a log. The
bicycles could be used to and from work and on