would you support and also use if your area did this?

Question

while in paris this summer i could not help but notice that there were all of these bikes same color wide seat with a cute little basket -- racks at various place through out the town -- on checking i found out you could rent one of these bikes by putting a credit card in and it would release the bike -- you could ride it anywhere and drop it off at any other bike rack -- also it is free if the usage was less than a hour

would you use the bikes if they were available in your area

and two most important since the goal is to get folks out of cars and reduce car usage would you support a local tax to pay for the program (bikes., bike paths etc)

Answer 1

Yes, someone tried something like that in San Francisco. A few years ago...I think it would be a good idea.... What a great proposal... I think it would be a great idea to let it catch on in small college towns like Davis, California.
I Yes, I would use the bikes and I would support a local tax. I could even see myself writting the proposal.

Answer 2

Mr. Ed - if I was healthy yes I would use the bike program you talk about. However, I am ANTI-TAX anything - we do not need Govt. in our Bicycle Saddles! If using bikes would reduce the car usage - then the bikes could be ridden on the roads (not Highways) - I was educated in England, and rode by bike all over London, and never used a bike path! If it were found that certain areas needed paths for bikes, then that money should come from the gas companies who have been gouging us on petrol prices for eons! CJ

Answer 3

I would. I love the exercise benefits. This would be ideal for me as I live in the downtown area and there are many places within a reasonable distance. However; as many others have stated, one would have to worry about the prospect of theft and vandalism.

It's really too bad that everything has to come down to that. Wouldn't it be great if it hadn't? I grew up in a small town where we never locked our door or our cars, but that was many moons ago.

Maybe we could learn something by studying why something like this works in Paris. We might find out a little bit about what we are doing wrong here in the states.

Answer 4

It is a good idea but not workable in all areas. Secondly....no, I would not support a tax on this at all. Let some group fund this. Make it a project for some people to re-do used bikes for those who would use and not abuse it. I hate tax increases for every new idea to cross the pike before anyone even knows if it's a benefit to themselves or their area.

We increased taxes for bike paths....unless you want yourself raped, murdered, burned, robbed and molested......trust me...you don't ride a bike down these paths. We increased taxes for beautiful parks which stay empty because they are un-safe to go to and they are decorated with gang graffiti. We increased our taxes to pay for sport complexes only a select few can use. So I am one that says ABSOLUTLY NO RAISE ON TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Yes, they do that in Davis, Ca. which is a BIG bike town, due to the UC Davis campus. Pick one up use it and drop it where you like, then pick up another one if you need it again. Works very well there. I have heard of cities doing it also.

Answer 6

I think it's a great idea and in some places it would work but I don't think it would work here because of the way the city is. We have electric buses that will take you around town for a quarter.

When I went to UC Santa Barbara, people would do that WITHOUT PERMISSION. If you didn't lock your bike, someone would take it to their next class. You might find it the next day when they came back.

Maybe it would work at UCSB..... HMMMmmmmmm

:+)

Answer 7

Live in a farm community, ride my own bike -- could see a possibility in some of the cities I shop in though.

Answer 8

The city I live in is all hills. I can't imagine trying to get around on a bike. I own a bike, but haul it in my pickup to bike trails to ride on!

Answer 9

It would be difficult because of high traffic on roadways, no sidewalks, some roads are not even paved. It would be dangerous here There are not a lot of crosswalks and lots of people have been hit trying to cross roads

We are already paying 7.5 % tax, 1% was for additional busses

Answer 10

Nope. With two kiddos to haul and 2 different drop offs before I head to work in the morning, it would be absolutely impossible for me. Plus, we have the 4 seasons where I live complete with bad weather. But it would be great if other people would do it!