This is just a quick one as I am about to head off to bed but feel that this little space has been some what neglected recently with all of the fun over at Sow. Give. Grow. (i do hope that those of you getting your next season seedlings on the go have had a read about the next Giving Day and have decided to join in the sneakiness.) I always feel a little lost with no real internet connection.
During our evening walk to gather some supplies for dinner, we stumbled across some bicycles for rent in the streets. This is such a wonderful idea and was amazed after a bit of research how many countries do something like this.
I am reading a great book as I travel called A Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz and he talks about what a great system this is apart from the fact that the ones near his house are either always out or have been locked up by someone with their own lock.
As I am from a city that is spread out and not really cycle-friendly, I would love to get some comments from people in cities where this sort of system operates, or where cycling is easy to do. Do you like it? Does it work?
Off to bed to get ready for a day of exploring tomorrow. If only we had been here a week ago to bask in the glory of Cadel Evans' win. Oh well.
Take care
Glad to hear you are having a good time and I can't wait so see where it all takes you. Brisbane has recently set up a bike hire system but as it was done since we moved to the country I have not used it. Perhaps I should make like a tourist and give it a go.
ReplyDeleteI love the sounds of the bike system. I can't imagine anything better than casually cycling around a European city and then giving the bike back at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteNow I wonder where you are going next??
Thanks, Fiona. We are having a ball and very much enjoying Paris.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that Brisbane have adopted a similar program. I hope you get a chance to have a go.
I used to ride my bike less than three kilometres to work and the trickiest thing was negotiating the cars. I had to end up changing my route as the council did some street beautification and put some trees down the middle of a road. It all sounds great but it takes a huge chunk of road away and many cars couldn't wait to squeeze between the riders and the trees. I ended up changing the way I went to work after a close call.
CHFG, it ia amazing how many people use the bikes. We are staying in the 7th, not too far from many tourist attractions and their are bike everywhere. We haven't tried this ourselves as we don't really feel confident with the French traffic and the kiddies riding in it.
ReplyDeleteThe next, and last, destination (for a while) will be revealed later in the week.
I used to cycle to uni in NZ (in all weather, I didn't have a car!), and all around Brisbane when I live there, but now we're out in country QLD I'm too scared to cycle to work (or anywhere) as the busy country road we live on has no verge and big cars are always wizzing past, with no patience for cyclists. I have read that the Brisbane scheme is not doing as well as similar schemes in Paris etc as you don't have to wear helmets in those countries. Its not quite so convenient as just "hopping on the bike and taking off" if you have to carry your helmet with you all the time. Not as spontaneous and free anyway. I hope that it does get some more support though, its a great idea. There's also a large changing area in the new King George Square, so even if your work doesn't provide changing facilities, you can get changed there. More here: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/cycling/index.htm
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