Can CDOT build a bike share system with a membership that reflect's Chicago's diversity? - The Chainlink2024-03-28T19:20:58Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?feed=yes&xn_auth=noVery true Juan. It's tough en…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6220812012-11-29T22:20:10.178ZJohn Greenfieldhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JohnGreenfield
<p>Very true Juan. It's tough enough to make a bike share program work, and it would be much easier to do so if they only put the kiosks in dense, affluent areas where there are already plenty of people who'd want to use them. Making the system work in low-income areas will be even more challenging, but a bike share system that only serves a narrow demographic can't be considered a complete success.</p>
<p>One department where underserved neighborhoods definitely seem to be getting their fair…</p>
<p>Very true Juan. It's tough enough to make a bike share program work, and it would be much easier to do so if they only put the kiosks in dense, affluent areas where there are already plenty of people who'd want to use them. Making the system work in low-income areas will be even more challenging, but a bike share system that only serves a narrow demographic can't be considered a complete success.</p>
<p>One department where underserved neighborhoods definitely seem to be getting their fair share of facilities is protected bike lanes. A high percentage of the miles of PBLs are going in on the South and West sides. Of course, one reason for this is because there are lots of wide roads in these areas where it's easy to install the lanes, but CDOT is also making a concerted effort to do a fair distribution.</p> I think building a successful…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6219472012-11-29T21:53:11.267ZJuan Primohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JuanPrimo
<p>I think building a successful bike share program is a huge undertaking. Adding a diversity component to it... even larger undertaking. I cannot think of any time that Chicago has had success instituting diversity.</p>
<p>I think building a successful bike share program is a huge undertaking. Adding a diversity component to it... even larger undertaking. I cannot think of any time that Chicago has had success instituting diversity.</p> Thanks for looking into that…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6219792012-11-29T21:02:20.321ZTony Adamshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/TonyAdams
<p>Thanks for looking into that John.</p>
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<p>I had the impression that nitrogen in tires is a scam anyway. Our air, be it heavy duty, light duty or whatever is already a bit over 78% nitrogen when it goes through our humble bike pumps and into our regular old tires. I can't see that altering the other 12% of the air in a tire would make that much difference. As always I'd be happy to be proven wrong. </p>
<p><br></br> <cite>Anne Alt said:…</cite></p>
<p>Thanks for looking into that John.</p>
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<p>I had the impression that nitrogen in tires is a scam anyway. Our air, be it heavy duty, light duty or whatever is already a bit over 78% nitrogen when it goes through our humble bike pumps and into our regular old tires. I can't see that altering the other 12% of the air in a tire would make that much difference. As always I'd be happy to be proven wrong. </p>
<p><br/> <cite>Anne Alt said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?page=1&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A622073&x=1#2211490Comment622073"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Nitrogen? Interesting. I found the Bixi ride to be consistently cushy when I tried the Toronto bikes.<br/> <br/> <cite>John Greenfield said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?page=1&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A621864&x=1#2211490Comment620881"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Let me double-check this. ...</p>
<p>However I see that Bixi bikes in Toronto, the same type we're getting, feature heavy-duty tires filled with nitrogen so they lose air less quickly: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-hire-bikes-6472127.html" target="_blank">http://www.standard.co.uk/news/taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-h...</a></p>
<p>I'll check in with CDOT and get back to you.</p>
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</blockquote> Nitrogen? Interesting. I fou…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6220732012-11-29T19:49:51.186ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>Nitrogen? Interesting. I found the Bixi ride to be consistently cushy when I tried the Toronto bikes.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>John Greenfield said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?page=1&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A621864&x=1#2211490Comment620881"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Let me double-check this. ...</p>
<p>However I see that Bixi bikes in Toronto, the same type we're…</p>
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<p>Nitrogen? Interesting. I found the Bixi ride to be consistently cushy when I tried the Toronto bikes.<br/> <br/> <cite>John Greenfield said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?page=1&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A621864&x=1#2211490Comment620881"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Let me double-check this. ...</p>
<p>However I see that Bixi bikes in Toronto, the same type we're getting, feature heavy-duty tires filled with nitrogen so they lose air less quickly: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-hire-bikes-6472127.html" target="_blank">http://www.standard.co.uk/news/taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-h...</a></p>
<p>I'll check in with CDOT and get back to you.</p>
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</blockquote> Truly. Back in the 1970s, th…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6218672012-11-29T19:47:40.657ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>Truly. Back in the 1970s, that "heavy-duty" air over industrial areas came in sludgy colors like dark brown, gray and black. I won't even attempt to describe the scents.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Bill Savage said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?page=1&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A621864&x=1#2211490Comment621864"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Chicago specialized in "heavy-duty"…</p>
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<p>Truly. Back in the 1970s, that "heavy-duty" air over industrial areas came in sludgy colors like dark brown, gray and black. I won't even attempt to describe the scents.<br/> <br/> <cite>Bill Savage said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-cdot-build-a-bike-share-system-with-a-membership-that-reflect?page=1&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A621864&x=1#2211490Comment621864"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Chicago specialized in "heavy-duty" air back in the days of steel mills and stockyards. Now our air is "industrial light."</p>
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</blockquote> Chicago specialized in "heavy…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6218642012-11-29T19:36:36.586ZBill Savagehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/BillSavage
<p>Chicago specialized in "heavy-duty" air back in the days of steel mills and stockyards. Now our air is "industrial light."</p>
<p>Chicago specialized in "heavy-duty" air back in the days of steel mills and stockyards. Now our air is "industrial light."</p> Tony,
Got this response from…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-29:2211490:Comment:6217612012-11-29T19:11:25.290ZJohn Greenfieldhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JohnGreenfield
<p>Tony,</p>
<p><br/>Got this response from Scott Kubly, CDOT's deputy director:</p>
<p>"[The tires] are air filled with regular air. But very heavy duty."</p>
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<p>Not sure where they're going to get this heavy-duty air. ; )</p>
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<p>Cheers,</p>
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<p>John</p>
<p>Tony,</p>
<p><br/>Got this response from Scott Kubly, CDOT's deputy director:</p>
<p>"[The tires] are air filled with regular air. But very heavy duty."</p>
<p></p>
<p>Not sure where they're going to get this heavy-duty air. ; )</p>
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<p>Cheers,</p>
<p></p>
<p>John</p> These bikes are definitely ma…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-26:2211490:Comment:6206942012-11-26T21:12:02.149ZJohn Greenfieldhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JohnGreenfield
<p>These bikes are definitely made for comfort, not speed, but weight isn't as much of an issue as you'd think for short trips on flat Chicago streets. Bike educator Dave "Mr Bike" Glowacz uses airless tires on his daily commuter bike and swears by them.</p>
<p>These bikes are definitely made for comfort, not speed, but weight isn't as much of an issue as you'd think for short trips on flat Chicago streets. Bike educator Dave "Mr Bike" Glowacz uses airless tires on his daily commuter bike and swears by them.</p> Thanks John. Airless on alrea…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-26:2211490:Comment:6207962012-11-26T20:48:33.540ZTony Adamshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/TonyAdams
<p>Thanks John. Airless on already heavy three speeds could make for a pretty pokey ride. </p>
<p>Thanks John. Airless on already heavy three speeds could make for a pretty pokey ride. </p> Let me double-check this. I t…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-11-26:2211490:Comment:6208812012-11-26T20:41:48.094ZJohn Greenfieldhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JohnGreenfield
<p>Let me double-check this. I thought I heard that Chicago's bikes would feature airless tires, which are literally flat-proof, as was the case with Long Beach's bike share program: <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/long-beach-announces-bike-sharing-plans-2500-bikes-be-installed.html" target="_blank">http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/long-beach-announces-bike-sharing-plans-2500-bikes-be-installed.html</a></p>
<p>However I see that Bixi bikes in Toronto, the same type we're getting,…</p>
<p>Let me double-check this. I thought I heard that Chicago's bikes would feature airless tires, which are literally flat-proof, as was the case with Long Beach's bike share program: <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/long-beach-announces-bike-sharing-plans-2500-bikes-be-installed.html" target="_blank">http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/long-beach-announces-bike-sharing-plans-2500-bikes-be-installed.html</a></p>
<p>However I see that Bixi bikes in Toronto, the same type we're getting, feature heavy-duty tires filled with nitrogen so they lose air less quickly: <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-hire-bikes-6472127.html" target="_blank">http://www.standard.co.uk/news/taking-a-ride-on-boriss-hot-wheels-hire-bikes-6472127.html</a></p>
<p>I'll check in with CDOT and get back to you.</p>