Bicycle Races? Coca Cola Zero Bikes comes to Cork
They say good things come to those who wait. As a regular Bus Éireann customer, I do not really agree with this statement, as far as the public bike scheme here in Cork is concerned, the phrase undoubtedly holds true, however. And it was about time, after all, lets face it, this country so far hasn't really been at the forefront when it comes to individual mobility. Ireland is caught in a love affair with the car, but doesn't have the cities to handle that, and it didn't have either WW2 or megalomaniac urban planners to correct that fact. The railway network has been reduced to a rump network, almost exclusively centred on Dublin. Urban public transport is dependent on buses, with the exception of the two LUAS lines in Dublin, lines that aren't even connected! And, again outside of Dublin, much of that public transport is utterly dependent on Bus Éireann, who still hold pretty much a monopoly.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. During the last years of the Celtic Tiger, a new type of transport system started operating in Dublin. Dublin Bikes is a bike sharing scheme based on several similar schemes of the same nature, such as Vélib in Paris, StadtRAD in Hamburg, Germany, or the nationwide OV-fiets system in the Netherlands. The system, which started out with 450 bikes and 40 docking stations, opened in 2009, and proved to be a resounding success. It is currently undergoing a massive expansion program that will bring the number of bikes to 1500 and the number of docking stations to 102.
With the success of Dublin Bikes, thoughts began to emerge about rolling out similar systems in the secondary cities, the so-called "provincial" cities of the republic. Even in the deepest depths of economic collapse, Ireland's National Transport Authority tasked the consultancy firm KPMG with a feasibility study for just such a roll-out. The study, which was handed over to the NTA in November 2011, stated that four cities should be considered for such a system, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The study, which is available on the NTA website, by the way, recommended a mixed approach to finance, splitting the cost between public finances and a private sponsor, mainly an advertising company, as had happened with JCDecaux in Dublin. It is this approach that was ultimately adapted and also brought on board sugared water distributor Coca Cola aboard as the main sponsor, which led to the current name for the scheme, Coca Cola Zero Bikes. However, the NTA ultimately decided against having Waterford among the cities taking part in the first part of the roll-out, for reasons only known to the NTA. They probably either stepped on someone's toes, or forgot to grease the right palms, this is politics, after all.
Anyway, the rollout of Coca Cola Zero Bikes can best be described as quintessentially Irish: It arrived well behind schedule. The original plan had been for the systems in Galway, Cork, and Limerick to become operational in summer 2014. That was quickly moved to September, which became unreachable as well. Still, city councils prepared for the roll-out by constructing an extensive network of bike lanes, as well as opening up some of the bus lanes for cyclists. The reaction by motorists and taxi drivers was predictably anarchic. Finally, it was announce that the rollout would start in late November. The Galway system would be the first to open on November 24th with 18 stations and 195 bikes. Limerick would be second, opening on December 8th with 23 stations and 215 bikes. Cork would be last, but also the largest, opening on December 18th with 31 stations and 330 bikes. Galway and Limerick launched without any major issues, however the size of the Cork system meant that it would be unavailable in its entirety by December 18th. Consequently, the decision was made to go ahead with 15 stations in Cork. The remaining 16 stations will go online early in 2015, after the Christmas moratorium for public construction work has ended.
Due to it's multi-channel funding, the costs for using Coke Zero Bikes are pleasantly low. Currently, the annual membership will set you back a whopping 5€. This will double to 10€ a year in 2015, still a very affordable price. The first 30 minutes of every hire are free, after which, the costs will rise exponentially. The exact prices are available on www.bikeshare.ie . What's more, a hold for a maximum of 150€ will be placed on your payment card the moment you rent a bike. This is designed to cover any damage, loss, or theft. It is returned once the bike has been returned to any of the docking stations.
So, how does this bloody thing work? Quite well actually, as I was able to find out on the last Sunday before Christmas. I took two rides to test the system. I started out from South Main Street. The closest station to me, Camden Quay, isn't wired up yet, and I didn't want any major intersections on the first bike trip since leaving Germany back in 2012. So, I headed to South Main Street, the station there still had two bikes available according to the Coke Zero Bikes app.
Renting a bike is a pretty straightforward process. You simply select your membership option from the touch screen on the terminal, hold your membership card in front of the reader, and enter your PIN. Once you've done that, you simply select the bike stand that has the bike you want, and verify that. Don't worry, the system will not allow you to select an empty stand. Once you've validated the bike, simply walk over to the selected stand, press the release button, and pull the bike out of the lock. Just like that.
The bikes themselves are pretty well built, and similar to the bikes available in the Dublin scheme. They don't have a rear baggage rack, just a smallish basket on the handle bar. It should still be able to accommodate a decent sized handbag, a six-pack or two, or a somewhat rigid shopping back... oh, the camera bag of a certain blogger fits in there like a charm as well. The bikes themselves are solid, really solid. Like "cut from a battleship hull" solid. This was probably done to keep the chance of damage by vandalism to a minimum. Luckily, this does not make the bikes any harder to handle than any other bike. The brakes are crisp and forceful if needed, but just as suited to gently slowing you down. Both front and rear lights are always on, which find very good, as it reduces the chance of the cyclist ending up as an accidental hood ornament. Oh, and they look damn good in their red and black paint.
The crowning glory however is the transmission. Unlike the Dublin Bikes, which are equipped with a three-speed transmission, the Coke Zero Bikes are equipped with a NuVinci Continuously Variable Transmission, which enables an almost infinite variety of gears, as well as a smooth transition between them. That makes it very easy to adapt to almost any situation, and you don't even have to stop pedalling, in my experience.
For the test run, I had decided on one of the longest runs possible in the current station network, from South Main Street to Gaol Walk, out by University College Cork. With Cork experiencing its traditional pre-Christmas gridlock, it quickly became apparent, just how crucial dedicated bike lanes are for a system like Coca Cola Zero Bikes. South Main Street was pretty much a parking lot when I started my trip. It is also a one-way street, but it had been wide enough to set up a counter-flow bike lane, which enabled me to get out of there, and onto Washington Street. From there, apart from the photo stop that yielded the bike pictures above, it was pretty much smooth sailing all the way to Gaol Walk. the dedicated bike lane, and the bus lanes which were open for cyclists sure made a difference, although I did find out the hard way that there is a long, inconspicuous but still mean climb from the intersection with Wandesford Quay almost all the way to the UCC campus. Still, thanks in no small part to the great transmission, it was not hard to keep pace with city traffic.
Returning the bike is even easier than renting one. You just push your bike into a stand, and wait for the LED and warning tone to finish their seizures. Even a US Republican could manage that. The journey immediately gets added to your account, and you receive a text message indicating any costs you've incurred on the journey, if you've exceeded the 30 minutes.
The return journey took me from Fitzgerald Park to the station at Cornmarket Street. Renting the bike was a bit of an issue, as one of the stands wouldn't release the bike. Luckily, a number of other stands were available, and I was soon on my way. I had originally planned to sneak onto Cornmarket Street via North Main Street. However, as I came up to the intersection, that plan went out the window. I had forgotten that North Main Street is a one-way street, one without a counterflow bike lane. So into the madness of Grand Parade it was. Up until the intersection of Washington Street and Grand Parade, everything was fine. However, from then on, it was straight into the grid-lock. Stop-and-Go traffic isn't fun on a bike, especially when you're caught in a position where you can't move over onto the sidewalk. The 200 meters from the intersection to the Cornmarket street station took me longer than the previous 1.5 kilometres from Fitzgerald Park.
Still, even with that, my impression of the system is generally positive. Once all 31 stations are up and running, this could make a real difference for short to medium range trips within the city. However, for the system to really take off, these 31 stations must only be the first step. Coverage should, as soon as it is feasible, be extended to cover the Victoria Cross Area and Cork County Council at Carrigrohane Road in the West. On the East End of the city, it would be prudent to expand into Marina Park in concert with the regeneration of that park and the reconstruction of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with the ultimate goal of extending the network all the way to Blackrock.
North-South expansion is pretty much blocked by the prevailing geography of the Lee valley. Still, an expansion northwards to cover Blackpool, including Blackpool Retail Park should be given very serious consideration. However, whatever expansion is chose, it must be ensure that any expansion goes along with an expansion of bike lanes in that area, if for no other reason than to ensure adequate deconfliction between cyclists and motorists. Such an expanded system would really cause the change in traffic patterns that Cork needs so desperately.
Still, I encourage everyone who lives in the city centre area to sign up for the system, and to use it as well. It is not an experience and really brings a big plus with regards to mobility. Information about the operational and planned stations can be found at www.bikeshare.ie , which is also where you can sign up for the program.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. During the last years of the Celtic Tiger, a new type of transport system started operating in Dublin. Dublin Bikes is a bike sharing scheme based on several similar schemes of the same nature, such as Vélib in Paris, StadtRAD in Hamburg, Germany, or the nationwide OV-fiets system in the Netherlands. The system, which started out with 450 bikes and 40 docking stations, opened in 2009, and proved to be a resounding success. It is currently undergoing a massive expansion program that will bring the number of bikes to 1500 and the number of docking stations to 102.
With the success of Dublin Bikes, thoughts began to emerge about rolling out similar systems in the secondary cities, the so-called "provincial" cities of the republic. Even in the deepest depths of economic collapse, Ireland's National Transport Authority tasked the consultancy firm KPMG with a feasibility study for just such a roll-out. The study, which was handed over to the NTA in November 2011, stated that four cities should be considered for such a system, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The study, which is available on the NTA website, by the way, recommended a mixed approach to finance, splitting the cost between public finances and a private sponsor, mainly an advertising company, as had happened with JCDecaux in Dublin. It is this approach that was ultimately adapted and also brought on board sugared water distributor Coca Cola aboard as the main sponsor, which led to the current name for the scheme, Coca Cola Zero Bikes. However, the NTA ultimately decided against having Waterford among the cities taking part in the first part of the roll-out, for reasons only known to the NTA. They probably either stepped on someone's toes, or forgot to grease the right palms, this is politics, after all.
Anyway, the rollout of Coca Cola Zero Bikes can best be described as quintessentially Irish: It arrived well behind schedule. The original plan had been for the systems in Galway, Cork, and Limerick to become operational in summer 2014. That was quickly moved to September, which became unreachable as well. Still, city councils prepared for the roll-out by constructing an extensive network of bike lanes, as well as opening up some of the bus lanes for cyclists. The reaction by motorists and taxi drivers was predictably anarchic. Finally, it was announce that the rollout would start in late November. The Galway system would be the first to open on November 24th with 18 stations and 195 bikes. Limerick would be second, opening on December 8th with 23 stations and 215 bikes. Cork would be last, but also the largest, opening on December 18th with 31 stations and 330 bikes. Galway and Limerick launched without any major issues, however the size of the Cork system meant that it would be unavailable in its entirety by December 18th. Consequently, the decision was made to go ahead with 15 stations in Cork. The remaining 16 stations will go online early in 2015, after the Christmas moratorium for public construction work has ended.
Due to it's multi-channel funding, the costs for using Coke Zero Bikes are pleasantly low. Currently, the annual membership will set you back a whopping 5€. This will double to 10€ a year in 2015, still a very affordable price. The first 30 minutes of every hire are free, after which, the costs will rise exponentially. The exact prices are available on www.bikeshare.ie . What's more, a hold for a maximum of 150€ will be placed on your payment card the moment you rent a bike. This is designed to cover any damage, loss, or theft. It is returned once the bike has been returned to any of the docking stations.
So, how does this bloody thing work? Quite well actually, as I was able to find out on the last Sunday before Christmas. I took two rides to test the system. I started out from South Main Street. The closest station to me, Camden Quay, isn't wired up yet, and I didn't want any major intersections on the first bike trip since leaving Germany back in 2012. So, I headed to South Main Street, the station there still had two bikes available according to the Coke Zero Bikes app.
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| And then there were two. The Station at South Main Street giving a pretty good impression of my bank account at the end of the month. |
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| "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I cannot do that..." The terminals of Coke Zero Bikes Cork may look a bit like HAL 9000, fortunately, they are quite a bit more cooperative. |
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| After selecting the bike, you have 60 seconds to to to the stand, press the release button, and pull it out of the stand. |
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| General overview of the bike. The sponsor's colours dominate the bike, and the name is visible on the rear wheel cover as well. The silver block is the pin that connects the bike to the stand and lock. |
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| The bottom of the handlebar basket contains some pretty useful tips for handling the bike. |
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| Close-up of the gear shift on the right handle of the bike. At the risk of repeating myself, that transmission is truly amazing. |
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| A pretty full docking station at Gaol Walk. Not surprising, considering that it is right outside the old Cork County prison. I'll leave the fact that this is now part of the university campus uncommented. |
The return journey took me from Fitzgerald Park to the station at Cornmarket Street. Renting the bike was a bit of an issue, as one of the stands wouldn't release the bike. Luckily, a number of other stands were available, and I was soon on my way. I had originally planned to sneak onto Cornmarket Street via North Main Street. However, as I came up to the intersection, that plan went out the window. I had forgotten that North Main Street is a one-way street, one without a counterflow bike lane. So into the madness of Grand Parade it was. Up until the intersection of Washington Street and Grand Parade, everything was fine. However, from then on, it was straight into the grid-lock. Stop-and-Go traffic isn't fun on a bike, especially when you're caught in a position where you can't move over onto the sidewalk. The 200 meters from the intersection to the Cornmarket street station took me longer than the previous 1.5 kilometres from Fitzgerald Park.
Still, even with that, my impression of the system is generally positive. Once all 31 stations are up and running, this could make a real difference for short to medium range trips within the city. However, for the system to really take off, these 31 stations must only be the first step. Coverage should, as soon as it is feasible, be extended to cover the Victoria Cross Area and Cork County Council at Carrigrohane Road in the West. On the East End of the city, it would be prudent to expand into Marina Park in concert with the regeneration of that park and the reconstruction of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with the ultimate goal of extending the network all the way to Blackrock.
North-South expansion is pretty much blocked by the prevailing geography of the Lee valley. Still, an expansion northwards to cover Blackpool, including Blackpool Retail Park should be given very serious consideration. However, whatever expansion is chose, it must be ensure that any expansion goes along with an expansion of bike lanes in that area, if for no other reason than to ensure adequate deconfliction between cyclists and motorists. Such an expanded system would really cause the change in traffic patterns that Cork needs so desperately.
Still, I encourage everyone who lives in the city centre area to sign up for the system, and to use it as well. It is not an experience and really brings a big plus with regards to mobility. Information about the operational and planned stations can be found at www.bikeshare.ie , which is also where you can sign up for the program.
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