Bike & Go

[G3CWI]

http://www.northernrail.org/travel/cycling/bike-and-go

Anyone tried it - or seen anyone else use it?

 

[classic33]

http://www.northernrail.org/travel/cycling/bike-and-go

Anyone tried it - or seen anyone else use it?

You pay an annual fee up front & then again when you pick one up.
Northern Rail won't allow them on any of their services though.
You also have to hope that there's someone at the station with a key as its nothing to do with station staff.

 

[G3CWI]

its nothing to do with station staff.

That's odd. The promo video clearly states that the system is administered by the station staff.

 

[classic33]

That's odd. The promo video clearly states that the system is administered by the station staff.

Having enquired at Leeds, Braford(Interchange & Forster Square) & Halifax, all requests met with the same answer. Almost word for word.

 

[G3CWI]

Sounds like it is bound to fail.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

We've had it at Ely for probably a while now. So far, out of the ten bikes, one went missing and never came back (probably dumped in the river). Two were seen in the City then quickly returned and the only time three were seen in the wild was at the launch when someone from Abellio Greater Anglia and a couple of local councillors did a photo opportunity. Every day I count the remaining nine and they've not moved for months.

Here's what Ely Cycling Campaign thought about it before and after it was launched.

 

[MarkF]

I see sad line of them every morning at Shipley station, I've never seen anybody use one and am pretty sure none has turned a wheel since they arrived on the platform.

 

[Crackle]

Saw one for the first time a few days ago on the Wirral Way.

 

[welsh dragon]

We don't have anything like that. To be honest, it looks like a beast of a bike. Far too heavy and unwieldy. I'd be surprised if anyone ever uses them.

 

[classic33]

I paid the Annual Fee(£12.50 at the time) and got the card. Other than just look at the bikes themselves, I was never able to actually remove one from any station.

 

[G3CWI]

I wonder who dreams up these ideas and what test marketing they did? It is tempting to think that the money might have been spent on something better - like free beer for cyclists.

 

[jonny jeez]

Seems like a great concept to me that answers a real issue, how to ride if you can't take the bike on the train.

Shame it's failing.

 

[classic33]

Sounds like it is bound to fail.

They've only been at the Interchange for two years. Give it a chance.

"As with the Dutch scheme, Bike&Go will appeal to a core market of daily users who will take bikes to work or home overnight, and return the bikes to the same hire point. A limit of 72 hours continuous hire ensures users don't keep bikes out of circulation by hanging on to them too long."

 

[Brandane]

They've only been at the Interchange for two years. Give it a chance.

"As with the Dutch scheme, Bike&Go will appeal to a core market of daily users who will take bikes to work or home overnight, and return the bikes to the same hire point. A limit of 72 hours continuous hire ensures users don't keep bikes out of circulation by hanging on to them too long."

You would think a daily hire fee of £3.80 would be enough to deter people from hanging on to them for too long! Six months hire cost would buy you something much more desirable than one of those monstrosities.

 

[classic33]

You would think a daily hire fee of £3.80 would be enough to deter people from hanging on to them for too long! Six months hire cost would buy you something much more desirable than one of those monstrosities.

You've to find someone with a key first!
And with the limited movement available, I can say they're heavy(I'll take the scale the next time), often have flats, which you'd be required to repair first and the gears are crunchy