Bike Secure

Distributed Bike Park+Share Systems

Prith David — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:26:50 +0000

It has been some time since my last blog entry. Having sort of hit some shifting sands, in the course of my work on the high-density bike park+share system that will safely stack and store up to 400 bikes, in the form of lack of financial wherewithal, I have looked at a solution for a small distributed bike park+share system that would have a floor area of 12 sqm.

Staying true to the concept of a combined bike park+share, the automated system would store around 10 bikes with controlled access. The solution is reliable, tested, flexible, overground, easily accessible and whose investment, calculations show, can be amortized in less than 4 years. In certain constellations with additional facilities and income sources the investment can be amortized well within 2 years. The need for additional services has been reflected in online surveys conducted in Switzerland and worldwide.

Market research shows no comparable solution is available today, so this could well be a problem solver that finds a market.

Switzerland Online Survey Results

Prith David — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:08:23 +0000

An online survey that was conducted in Switzerland came up with some interesting results. One can conclude that bike users want a quick, safe, secure and flexible bike parking solution and are willing to pay a fee. Going by the investment of a bike the monthly fee must lie below 1% of the price of a new bike.

William James Foundation

Prith David — Mon, 16 May 2011 13:55:20 +0000

I took part recently in a competition, conducted by the William James Foundation in Washington D.C., with the High-density bike park & share concept. The submission did not win any prizes, but received some very positive feedback. Check out the presentation (a WMV file) here – William James Foundation 8th Annual Gathering & Finalist Presentations.

Now is the time, more than ever, for flexible and adaptive bike park & share solutions. High-Density Bike Park & Share is a perfect solution.

The William James Foundation for viable and sustainable business entrepreneurs.

Theft Protection

Prith David — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 11:43:07 +0000

Cars nowadays have GPS be it for navigation or as an anti-theft device. They can be programmed to lock up the vehicle remotely. Heard of thieves who have found the car seize up right on the road? No science fiction involved, as all that it involves is a programmed interface that will prevent the car being used beyond a certain geographical area.

Bikes, the human or perhaps battery-aided device, have an extremely vulnerable set up that makes them difficult to protect. Short of putting them in a closed space or locking up the whole bike, including all parts, with multiple chains and padlocks, they are generally prone to be stolen.

Passive RFID chips today have the ability to be used as part of an anti-theft set up. With fractal antennae and and external readers, they can be part of a surveillance system that can provide a fair level of security. Not that this frees one from taking elementary steps to prevent theft, such as locking up the bike securely, or even using a bike station.

Online Survey in Switzerland (CLOSED)

Prith David — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:07:07 +0000

I have been conducting an on-line survey. The respondents are generally keen on having a protected and secure bike parking system. The tentative figures that I have been able to put together shows that such a system will undoubtedly cover costs and could, under certain configurations, come up with a profit. The issue has been on the one hand the reluctance to pay for such use, by some, and on the other hand the lack of foresight among city planners, to ensure that such parking systems are spread around inner cities and are placed at major intersections, shopping complexes, railway stations etc.

The survey has now been closed. I’ll put up the results, once I’ve transcribed and translated a summary. To those who took part, thank you!

Bike Theft Insurance

Prith David — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:44:06 +0000

Insurance firms appear not to have latched on to the impact of safe and secure bike parking on theft and vandalism of bikes.
In the case of cars and other motorized vehicles, insurance premiums vary depending on where vehicles are parked, be they in garages or out in the open.
In the case of bicycles however, there has been no encouragement and/or premium plans that factor in this aspect. Insurance firms would profit from such differentiation, just as bike owners would reduce insurance premiums, if they were to use safe and secure bike parking facilities.

City Planning & Bike Parking

Prith David — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:22:07 +0000

Photo: cosimo.chiffi; creative commons license; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/

City planning authorities have been making attempts to provide bike paths and/or lanes in many cities. However, there appears to be no school of thought that factors in the need and paucity of bike parking facilities in the mobility chain. Hop on, hop off literally!
I have often heard about the flexibility of bikes enabling one to park the bike literally at the doorstep or at a lamppost. This solution works in some situations, but does not address the problems associated with this form of parking. Invariably, city planning authorities seem to address the paucity of bike parking space at railway stations. But this approach does not seem to concede that a bicyclist may not just want to park a bike at the railway station, but perhaps elsewhere in the city. Say at a shopping complex or at an office building. Car parking bays and lots seem to be automatically included in the planning process, but bikes have at times, as an afterthought, been given racks that are set up as an apology for a pressing need for safe and secure parking facilities.
Yes we do know, we would like to be as close as possible to where we are going, just as a motorist would like to do so with the car. But is that a long-lasting solution, with which a electric bike owner would be satisfied with?

Survey Results

Prith David — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:04:38 +0000

Thank you for taking part! You have contributed to bringing the solution a step closer. Here is an excerpt of the survey results.

A Need?
Around 62 people from around the world have taken part in the survey and the results shown that a large majority want an affordable, safe and secure bike parking system.

Where?
The survey listed major congregation points such as railway, bus and subway stations, office complexes, inner cities, metropolitan areas and shopping centres. There was also a wish to have such facilities at schools and universities. Generally just about everywhere in cities. The results show that around 70-90% of respondents wish to have such facilities at these places.

A Charge?
A majority of users are indeed willing to pay a reasonable fee to use such a facility. Though these survey results show that a large majority are for such fees, experience has shown that around 50% of users will be willing to use and pay for such a facility. As and when insurance companies start factoring in security of bike parking, as is done with automobiles today, there will be a marked influence on insurance premiums. Among various factors that play a role are ease and security of use. A system that requires entering buildings or parking underground tend to put off many, especially women. The key lies in tackling this problem and offering a solution avoiding these pitfalls.

How Often?
Respondents have shown that a facility operating 24/7 is preferred. There is a strong need to have the reassurance that a bike can be parked at any time of the day or night with no risk of theft or damage.

Use Your Bike More Often?
If such a facility is available, people are willing to use their bikes more often. In effect, among other factors such as bike lanes etc., undoubtedly this would go some way in encouraging use of bikes in cities.

Combination of Bike Parking and Renting?
The flexibility of using one’s own bike or renting one plays a role in the freedom to choose with a 50-50 split. Having said that, this is an important factor for those who seek to rent a bike in a quick and easy manner, especially when one does not use one’s own or even own a bike.

Comments
Quite a few comments have been added in the survey. Check out a few below:

Project Idea

Prith David — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:44:38 +0000

Here’s a little more information about the idea and project:
Driven by the experience and the risk of losing and/or having a damaged bike, besides the added risk of a wet saddle and rusting. I came up with a solution that would cater to those who are already bikers or may want to become one. Offering seamless inter-modal transport enabling one to switch modes with some flexibility.

There are quite a few bike sharing solutions out there, but very few offer the combination of using one’s own or renting a bike. Many bikers appear to want such a combination.

You are never too young or too old to ride a bike. Keep moving, keep healthy.

Bike Parking Survey

Prith David — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:45:08 +0000

Please check the following survey on your bike parking preferences/ choices
SURVEY