Sightline Daily: Two Wheels and High Heels

via Sightline Daily: Two Wheels and High Heels:

"Bike-share programs are sweeping the world but not, as yet, Cascadia. They are very successful at boosting bike numbers. Apparently, people used to point and stare if you were pedaling in Barcelona. Bicing, Barcelona’s bike share program, has changed that in just a few years. Bicing started in 2007 and quickly tripled cycling trips according to Miquel Ruscalleda, who directs Barcelona’s cycling efforts."

 Very good article with an overview of cycling in cities all over the world.

I can confirm the pointing and staring happening a few years ago in Barcelona.

Bizi Zaragoza: 3.2 million bicycle trips in 2011

via heraldo.es "El servicio Bizi supera los 7 millones de usos desde su inicio":

 "En 2011, el servicio Bizi sumó 3.200.000 usos más y llegó a los 7 millones de desplazamientos, desde que comenzó en 2008. El año pasado, se amplió el servicio, llegando a 130 estaciones, 1.300 bicis y 39.000 abonados.

El Bizi comenzó en 2008 para le Expo, con 30 paradas, 300 bicicletas y un precio promocional de 6 euros. Tras la Expo, el abono anual pasó a 20 y ahora cuesta 25.

El incremento de usos ha sido progresivo: 220.000 en 2008, 1.480.000 en 2009, 2.100.000 en 2010 y 3.200.000, en 2011."

bcn.cat: 26% rise in the number of accidents involving bicycles

via bcn.es - Traffic fatalities in the city drop by 20% :

"While motorcycle- and moped-related accidents have dropped by 1% and 16% respectively, the number of bicycle-related accidents has risen, representing 3% of all vehicles involved in accidents.
With more than 106,000 bicycle journeys made every day, bicycle-related accidents in the city have risen in number from close to 400 in 2010 to more than 520 in 2011, which corresponds to a 26% increase in their accident rate."

Bicing cyclist killed by truck on cycle-lane

Via el pais: "Muere una ciclista en Barcelona arrollada por un camión"

The cyclist was using bicing on the cycle-lane on C/Diputació. The truck driver turned right crossing the lane and hitting the bicing user. The 49 year old woman was killed instantly.

More coverage:

• el pais: "Muere una ciclista en Barcelona arrollada por un camió
• el Periódico: "Fallece una usuaria del Bicing al ser arrollada por un camión"

bicing will open two hours longer on weekdays

via abc.es: Bicing amplía el horario nocturno tras cerrar el año con un 30% más de viajes :

"El servicio municipal de alquiler de bicicletas "Bicing" ampliará dos horas más el horario entre semana, hasta las 2 de la madrugada, después de cerrar 2011 con un aumento del 30 por ciento de los viajes, ha informado hoy el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona."

Some other interesting bits from the article:

• Compared with 2010 data, this year there have been 30 percent more trips, so that a bike uses have increased from 11.1 to 14.6 million.
• One measure is to introduce advertising on the bicycles, for which the City is already negotiating with some interested advertisers 

The announcement of the change in hours is also available on the bicing website.

Bicing subscription increases to 40 Euro + 4 Euro Insurance

via bcn.cat "Bicing will have a compulsory, 4-euro insurance policy":

"Bicing users will have to take out a mandatory 4-euro insurance policy that covers third-party claims, first-party damage and injury, and legal assistance. This is in addition to the rise in the Bicing charge from 35 to 40 euros announced among the new public-sector charges for 2012."

The article also points out that this will rise further in the future until the users are covering 40% of the cost of the service, with the current change they are now paying 25%.

The increase in costs is 15% excluding the insurance. At the same time the city managed to reduce the cost of bicing from 13850000 Euro by 350000 Euro, which is a decrease of 2%.

As I personally don't live in the bicing zone any more, I have to reconsider continuing with my subscription. I am going to continue using it next year, but there are is certainly a limit I am willing to pay per month.

I am also not happy with the compulsory insurance policy, unless the legal assistance will help me with ridiculous charges by the police. I fear this is just money going to the insurance company without any benefits to the user.

More information about the change also on bicing.cat.