Launch of new Cork Public Bikes Scheme

Subpopulus · 24-02-2015 1:07am

Yes, but it hasn't been launched. They just turned on the terminals. Politicans gotta have their day in the sun.

Going Strong · 24-02-2015 2:23pm

I must say that I'm impressed with the "Fit & Finish" of the completed bike stand on Patrick Street. The paving blocks have been replaced properly with none of the bodge jobs of an acre of cement or lumpy tarmac you usually get.

moyners · 25-02-2015 11:46am

Going Strong wrote: »

I must say that I'm impressed with the "Fit & Finish" of the completed bike stand on Patrick Street. The paving blocks have been replaced properly with none of the bodge jobs of an acre of cement or lumpy tarmac you usually get.

+1 I was delighted they did a proper job by Electric too - as you say I was expecting them to fill in the gaps with tarmac like they usually do!

namloc1980 · 25-02-2015 7:58pm

Took a spin out to UCC on one of the bikes earlier. Saw about 5 or 6 others using them which was great. What wasn't so great was that of the people using the bikes I was the only one who obeyed the traffic lights. Each one of the others that I saw broke red lights on Washington St/Western Rd - every single one of them.

Jentle Grenade · 26-02-2015 1:02am

namloc1980 wrote: »

Took a spin out to UCC on one of the bikes earlier. Saw about 5 or 6 others using them which was great. What wasn't so great was that of the people using the bikes I was the only one who obeyed the traffic lights. Each one of the others that I saw broke red lights on Washington St/Western Rd - every single one of them.

It's incredibly annoying. I use the bikes 6/7 times a week traveling to UCC from Washington Street and I feel like I'm the only dope obeying the traffic lights too. Don't get me started on the people dying on the footpath!

Ludo · 26-02-2015 8:31am

Jentle Grenade wrote: »

It's incredibly annoying. I use the bikes 6/7 times a week traveling to UCC from Washington Street and I feel like I'm the only dope obeying the traffic lights too. Don't get me started on the people dying on the footpath!

:eek: Has it gotten that bad already ???? :eek:

Jentle Grenade · 26-02-2015 12:08pm

Ludo wrote: »

:eek: Has it gotten that bad already ???? :eek:

Haha! Cycling*

run_Forrest_run · 26-02-2015 2:16pm

Jentle Grenade wrote: »

Haha! Cycling*

I think the only way the message will get through to these ignorant people who cycle on footpaths is if everyone actually tells the person what they are doing is illegal and downright dangerous. If there is a sense of public intolerance to this then the cyclists will stop doing it.

kaki · 26-02-2015 2:55pm

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

I think the only way the message will get through to these ignorant people who cycle on footpaths is if everyone actually tells the person what they are doing is illegal and downright dangerous. If there is a sense of public intolerance to this then the cyclists will stop doing it.

For balance, I was cycling on Western Road during the week and got shouted at by someone in a car to get on the footpath

As always, it was only afterwards that I thought of an adequately witty response.

daveyjoe · 26-02-2015 3:10pm

Jentle Grenade wrote: »

It's incredibly annoying. I use the bikes 6/7 times a week traveling to UCC from Washington Street and I feel like I'm the only dope obeying the traffic lights too. Don't get me started on the people dying on the footpath!

Do you mean breaking a red when the pedestrian crossing light is green but the traffic lights are red? I don't cycle at all but is it really such a bad thing to do? Most european countries allow cyclists to cross at pedestrian crossings, as long as you slow down, give way to pedestrians and do it carefully then I don't really have a problem with it.

Cycling on the footpath is stupid though, also wearing earphones/headphones while cycling should be against the law (is it already?).

TheChizler · 26-02-2015 3:22pm

kaki wrote: »

As always, it was only afterwards that I thought of an adequately witty response.

Go on...

kaki · 26-02-2015 3:30pm

TheChizler wrote: »

Go on...

... So's your face?

Back to Cork Public Bikes scheme, I actually think a user guide would be of benefit - a lot of users seem to have little to no experience of road cycling - and possibly a large proportion aren't even road users - which makes a big difference to hazard perception etc.

D'Agger · 26-02-2015 3:47pm

The app could push out videos - would certainly benefit visitors to the city using the 3 day pass

Something simple like showing something with a green tick on the top of the screen i.e. stopping at red lights, red tick showing somebody mounting a footpath or going through a red light. Simples.

evilivor · 26-02-2015 4:00pm

D'Agger wrote: »

The app could push out videos - would certainly benefit visitors to the city using the 3 day pass

Something simple like showing something with a green tick on the top of the screen i.e. stopping at red lights, red tick showing somebody mounting a footpath or going through a red light. Simples.

Go idea. Add cycling the wrong way down one-way streets and cycling while on the phone.

okedoke · 26-02-2015 4:36pm

I've had a few near misses travelling on Washington St/Western Road on the cycle path. Cars are used to looking left as they come onto Washington St because it used to be one way only (still is for cars) - they don't expect a bike to be coming from their right.

opus · 02-03-2015 3:29pm

Subpopulus wrote: »

Word on the street is that the scheme is to be officially launched on Monday 2nd March in Cork City hall by Minister Simon Coveney. So everything should be up and running by the end of this week.

You were spot on there!

2,5000 SADDLE UP FOR NEW CORK BIKE SHARING SCHEME

The scheme, sponsored by Coca-Cola Zero, was officially launched in City Hall today as the last of the 31 docking stations went live.

evilivor · 02-03-2015 3:58pm

Passed the station on Pope's Quay today - it had a big sign on top saying something about today being the big launch day!

Pity the station had no bikes.

TheChizler · 02-03-2015 4:12pm

evilivor wrote: »

Passed the station on Pope's Quay today - it had a big sign on top saying something about today being the big launch day!

Pity the station had no bikes.

Interesting marketing they had earlier in the day!

https://www.facebook.com/CorkChoralFestival/photos/pcb.10153135419356661/10153135418071661/?type=1&theater

scuby · 02-03-2015 7:33pm

have used them a good few times in last week, nu complaints.

As more stations come on line it will take them a few weeks to establish which routes need replenishing more often

Subpopulus · 02-03-2015 8:40pm

I passed the station on Popes Quay and the terminal had a big red bow on it like a Christmas present. Nice touch.

However, it also had bikes at it, unlike any Christmas I ever experienced.

Worztron · 02-03-2015 9:42pm

Saw the bikes being unloaded from a truck today on the Lapps Quay bike station.

Knasher · 02-03-2015 10:53pm

evilivor wrote: »

Passed the station on Pope's Quay today - it had a big sign on top saying something about today being the big launch day!

Pity the station had no bikes.

I passed it last night and the bikes were there.

Going Strong · 03-03-2015 10:42am

Subpopulus wrote: »

I passed the station on Popes Quay and the terminal had a big red bow on it like a Christmas present. Nice touch.

However, it also had bikes at it, unlike any Christmas I ever experienced.

The station outside Merchant's Quay had a bow as well. There were potted plants, daffodils I think, in each of the bikes front carrier.

namloc1980 · 04-03-2015 7:42pm

Took a bike from the station on the South Mall today, handle bars were very loose. Put it straight back and took another. Hope they have a decent maintenance contract set up with these.

On another note anyone notice the amount of people who stare when you're on one of the bikes....have they never seen a bike or what?!

thomil · 04-03-2015 8:15pm

Have you reported that issue? You can do that both via the app and after logging in on their website, for up to ten hours after the trip, as far as I know. Had an issue with a bike where the saddle wouldn't remain at the height you set it up to, because the lock/fix was rusty. They do seem to be taking care of the bikes though, that was the only issue I had.

As far as the staring is, the system is still pretty new, so many people will probably only have heard about it in the papers or on TV. I stare as well, or more precisely look out for people riding them, to judge how the acceptance is. At least the "interview phase" seems to have ended. For the first few weeks of operation, I was questioned about the bikes by so many people that I almost felt like I was a minor celebrity for using the system.

ofcork · 04-03-2015 8:26pm

Passed a truck today with bikes on the back around 4 in Washington street.

namloc1980 · 04-03-2015 9:04pm

thomil wrote: »

Have you reported that issue? You can do that both via the app and after logging in on their website, for up to ten hours after the trip, as far as I know. Had an issue with a bike where the saddle wouldn't remain at the height you set it up to, because the lock/fix was rusty. They do seem to be taking care of the bikes though, that was the only issue I had.

As far as the staring is, the system is still pretty new, so many people will probably only have heard about it in the papers or on TV. I stare as well, or more precisely look out for people riding them, to judge how the acceptance is. At least the "interview phase" seems to have ended. For the first few weeks of operation, I was questioned about the bikes by so many people that I almost felt like I was a minor celebrity for using the system.

There was a facility at the station to record a problem. When I went to get the second bike I was faced with a question asking the lines of, your last journey was very short...was there a problem with the bike? Yes or No.

Subpopulus · 04-03-2015 10:34pm

Just so ye know, if there's a bike with a fault, when you put it back, twist the seat post around so it's facing the wrong way. This is an informal system to let other users know that the bike is a bit dodgy. It's used on a few other bike sharing systems.

Going Strong · 05-03-2015 10:36am

I passed the stand on Washington Street the other morning and there was one of the trucks delivering bikes parked up. The driver was examining the bikes and checking them for faults. He seemed to be taking away one that he wasn't happy with as he was checking the pedals on it before he took it away.

Lyaiera · 05-03-2015 2:53pm

I've had a bit more spare time on my hands recently (medical issues) so I've decided to do a photo documentary on the bike share scheme. So far I've been out twice, once at night and once during the day and visited a few of the stations. There was one person being "interviewed" as you put it so I told her what I was doing and asked if she minded if I took her photo as she cycled off, she didn't have a problem with it and I snapped away. As she doubled back the other way she gave me a wave.

I'm not allowed exercise/get my heart rate up for another few weeks, but I plan on making use of these once I can now that all the stations have opened. I've been on the look out for people using them and there definitely seems to be a few people utilising them, which is great.

Launch of new Cork Public Bikes Scheme

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