bikeshare expectations

[shootingstar]

Bikeshare was put into place last year by the city and it's use has been abysmal. Because Seattle is FULL of hills! And a one speed heavy bike isn't going to get very far on a steep hill unless you're especially determined. Even though it's failing big time, city council has elected to continue to waste the taxpayers' money on it - and interesting to note that the leader of the bikeshare is a comrade of the person responsible for passing the continuation.

As a Vancouverite (since it's a 2nd home for me), I've always been in slight awe of Seattle cyclists whenever I visit the city to see friggin' steep, long hills in the downtown area that intersect some major busy streets ....or are just quite steep. We usually bring our bikes on Amtrak train between Vancouver and Seattle. I recommend this train which offers a bike train car for storage lst morning train and last evening train. I've cycled between Vancouver and Seattle twice on different trips. So having Amtrak one way, can save time....

Last year when I saw bikshare in Seattle, I did wonder about the steep hills. How does cycling mode share expand in general in Seattle ..or maybe it's only among people who cycle familiar flatter routes or for strong/competent cyclists. Perhaps bus bike racks helps or taking bike onto LRT?

It is possible to cycle in downtown Vancouver and see several major attractions, go to restaurants, shops and parks, tour some neighbourhoods for several hrs. or whole day, without a steep long hill on a busy downtown city street. (Quiet residential streets at least gives less stress and unhurried time to mount the hill. A car would only pass by every 3-5 min. Peaceful.) I mean no hill over 8% and longer with many downtown cars close by. However just doing 1 hill @ 10% 1 km. long for a few minutes in 1 day within downtown Vancouver, will at least diversify more beautiful scenes and see more things in Vancouver. I wouldn't really relish doing that type of hill on a bikeshare bike which will have 3 speeds I believe.

Yes, there are several cycletracks in downtown plus some bike-ped paths which for latter I would recommend an early morning ride --which there is a beautiful ride by oceanwater inlets and creeks.

I've seen Toronto's bixi bikeshare every time I visit my family, but find their bike too large for me.