EXCLUSIVE
By Henri Paget
ninemsn
Sydney is taking a hint from Europe and considering a massive project that could link the CBD transport grid with a network of free bicycle-borrowing stations.
The ambitious eco-friendly proposal — similar to the one recently approved for construction in Paris — would cut traffic, combat global warming and perhaps even save the city's lackluster public transport system.
"We're aiming to increase cycling by 500 percent, and make it an acceptable and normal mode of transport that people would consider in the inner city," said Josh MacKenzie of the Sydney City Council.
"The bicycle renting and borrowing program in Paris is something that we are looking at."
Outdoor advertising conglomerate JCDecaux is behind the Paris scheme, which will launch on July 15 as the largest bicycle rental network in the world.
"There's a very high level of interest (in Sydney), and that interest is now being converted into action," said Steve O'Connor, CEO of JCDecaux Australia.
How does the system work? In Paris, thousands of rental bikes will be available for use at hundreds of high-tech bicycle stations located in key parts of the city. A user will be able to rent a bike at a small fee, and then ride it to any other station in the city and drop it off.
Like the Paris venture, JCDecaux's Sydney proposal is aimed at the budget commuter.
"The first hour is free of charge, and there's a charge after that hour. As a consequence of that pricing structure most rides end up being free," O'Connor explained.
The company expects to make the bulk of their money by selling billboard-style advertising at the various cycling stations.
As a way of warding off potential thieves, bicycle-renters will be required to swipe their credit card or leave a refundable deposit at the station.
The bikes themselves will be outfitted with a cutting-edge self diagnostic system that will alert bicycle station workers to any damage or vandalism encountered during the rental.
O'Connor said that connecting the Circular Quay ferry port with other parts of the CBD by bicycle routes is one of the company's initiatives.
"[The network] should form part of an integrated transport plan," O'Connor said. "The groups that tend to use the bikes more are executives and students, so clearly you need bike stations where these people congregate."
Melbourne city council is also being approached by JCDecaux, but O'Connor said the negotiations in Victoria are "not as far down the track" as they are in New South Wales.
If everything is to go as planned, O'Connor speculates that a bicycle network for Sydney could be only 18 months away.
"It's healthy, it combats a lot of obesity issues that are being discussed at the moment," he said. "This is clearly an initiative that will reduce carbon emissions."
"The general climate is right for it."
The push for the rent-a-bicycle network comes as an innovative plan to build up to 55 kilometres of separated cycle lanes in Sydney is passed by the city council's Planning Development and Transport Committee.
"The reason people are not cycling in Sydney is because they don't feel safe riding on shoulder lanes near cars, and that there's too much traffic in the city," said council spokesman Josh MacKenzie.
"So if we can provide more cycle lanes and more safe cycling options for people then more people are going to bicycling."
After being approved by the committee last night, the cycle-lane proposal will go before a full meeting of Council on Monday 2 April.
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