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Topic: Bikes You Can Rent By Cell Phone

Willowdale Wizard
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3674

posted 05 July 2004 12:52 PM

they're being tested out in london, in the areas of hammersmith and fulham (a good test area, since it's flat and compact, and it has a number of tube stations, two football grounds and an exhibition centre).

bbc news

quote:
Anyone wanting to use an Oybike signs up and pays a £10 annual fee, then uses their mobile phone to unlock a bike for as long as they need.
The phone receives a pin number to unlock the bike at the start of a journey and a second one to lock it at the end and to determine how much the rider is charged.
Hire prices start at 30p for 15 minutes and rise to £8 for up to eight hours of time on an Oybike.
The first 28 rental stations are at locations including tube and train stations, theatres and cinemas. There are plans to introduce more, so Oybike collection and drop-off is easier.
Suit wearers will be happy to know that the Oybikes do not use chains, so there's little chance of getting oil on your clothes.

From: england (hometown of toronto) | Registered: Jan 2003 | IP: Logged

aRoused
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1962

posted 06 July 2004 07:34 AM

That's both a cute and unfortunate company name.. On Yer Bike, or Oi!-bike?

More seriously, the consensus among regular cyclists seems to be that it's a nice idea, but will need to be more widely implemented if it's ever going to take flight.

Copenhagen has a rental bike scheme, paid for in part by selling advertising on the (bizarre-looking) bicycles.

From: The King's Royal Burgh of Eoforwich | Registered: Dec 2001 | IP: Logged

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