Vilnius First in Europe to Launch Public E Bike Rental

[sk8norcal]

http://baltic-review.com/2011/08/11/vilnius-first-in-europe-to-launch-public-electric-bike-%E2%80%9Crent-and-share%E2%80%9D-program/

August 11, 2011. Vilnius, Lithuania. Vilnius will become the first city in Europe to introduce a public electric bike “Rent and Share” system. Electric bicycles will be available for renting and sharing by residents or visitors to the capital of Lithuania as of today. The bikes, one of a series of initiatives by Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas, reinforces Vilnius’ goal of becoming a world leader in making the latest environment friendly transportation technologies widely available.

“It’s good for the people of Vilnius, it’s good for our visitors and it’s good for the city. I’m pleased that Vilnius has taken the lead in providing a new mode of quality public transportation which addresses urban congestion issues that all cities face. I hope that other cities will follow our lead,” stated Mayor Zuokas, who recently achieved world-wide internet fame in a specially produced Public Service Announcement by the City of Vilnius highlighting parking violation problems by driving over an illegally parked car with a tank.
Vilnius First in Europe to Launch Public Electric Bike “Rent and Share” Program

Vilnius First in Europe to Launch Public Electric Bike “Rent and Share” Program

The new “Rent and Share” pilot program has been launched as a joint effort between the City of Vilnius and German and Lithuanian bicycle firms. Bikes will be available during the Eurobasket 2011 games which will take place in Lithuania in September. Similar electric bike rental systems are under consideration in Spain, Italy and Great Britain.

The bikes are called “e-orange” and are detailed with bright orange stripes. They will be available for rental at four Tourism Information Centers located in the downtown and Old Town areas of Vilnius. They will cost from 3 euros for the first hour of rental with increasing hourly costs e.g. a four hour ride will cost 26 euros. A 145 euro deposit is required by credit card at the time of rental and is refunded to the renter immediately upon return of the bike to the original rental point. A built in GPS system monitors the whereabouts of the bicycles at any given time.

by Irma Juskenaite

 

[eugenem]

I'm originally from Vilnius living in NY for the past 13 years and while the idea is awesome in theory. The mayors first attempt at a bike sharing program ended when most of the bikes were stolen in a matter of days

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/5080/

Now this, I think, is awesome. Here's a little video of the mayor punishing someone who parked in a bike lane Major WIN imo

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/vilnius-mayor-crushes-car-in-bike-lane-with-a-tank/

 

[liveforphysics]

I love it! I hope it works out great for them!

 

[Joseph C.]

Hmmm, there may be a bit of substance to this guy after all.

But then the cynical, and somewhat more realistic, side of me wonders who actually came up with the idea and who should be getting the credit for its implementation. :wink:

That aside, it is a very good idea and should address the biggest potential drawback, theft. Well done to whoever is responsible.

 

[LockH]

Elektroninis dviratis (segway) – patraukli transporto priemonė, norintiems nukeliauti ne vieną kilometrą vingiuotais takeliais, parkais, senamiesčio grindiniu. Vairuoti elektroninį dviratį gali išmokti kiekvienas. Išklausę instruktoriaus nurodymus ir kelias minutėles pabandę, drąsiai judėsite savarankiškai.
http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/turizmas/transportas/turistinis-transportas/segway/
http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/en/tourism/sightseeing-tours/book-the-tour/segway/
(Currently filed under "Sightseeing Tours".)

Sooo... Segway got in there? Seems a popular tourist thingee for Jimi Heselden-wannabes.



(Sorry. Bad joke.)

 

[Eskimo]

I have slept one night at the Vilnius main bus station two years after the USSR fell down.
They offered me free hot coffee through the night. Fair people.
Those were the days. Whole eastern Europe was dirt cheap for us.
Why i slept at the station? Bus arrived like around midnight, and next was leaving something like five am.
We have tried free bikes too here but they just got stolen. Some were found like 500 miles away from a barn.

 

[LockH]

"Investigation into traffic flows on high intensity streets of Vilnius city"
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3846/transport.2010.30?journalCode=tran20#.U_Xw3Wcg-QI

Includes: "Vilnius is a centre of business, industry and tourism, and therefore traffic intensity remains the highest in this part of the country."

Funny how biz and tourism go so nicely (smile). Euro EPAC rentals and uses in that burg would blow "Segway-style" (TM) use/rental bizes outta water. City may have tourism web pages but according to one theory yer not selling the steak etc.

"Sizzle" vehicles in this case maybe faaar more practical (in 19-20th Cent. terms- use and services/accessories, etc). And "affordable" re travel (adventure the import part, right up there under 1)safety 2)fun options), both to buy and to operate. Sources of "hydro" etc electrical energy FAR more widely available vs "gas station". (And waaay less costs to operate vs eg pedal-only two-wheeled and up from there in costs. Pleasures in inverse order perhaps. Hehe)

Other than perhaps that whole "back seat" thingee. Hehe

Anyway. Suspect some Euro-friendly person can see/smell possibilities for ebikes there? And was curious how that Vilnius "ebike" biz was doin' for Mayor et al.

ED: And Vilnius thinks THEY "may have traffic problems"??? Compared to EG NA cities??? (Looking at YOU Toronto - infested today with private "SUV", previously "cars".) In "tourism" terms, 1) BAN CAR (for personal use in "urban" environments). With money saved, city could give away EPAC use. ( 2) on list.)

 

[LockH]

Email just sent:

LockH
Today at 11:11 AM
Tomeras@vilnius.lt
Attn: Artūras Zuokas

Dear Mayor

Pretty city! (Coming from a Canadian that lived in outside London for three years long ago. So miss seeing "old" Euro cities/architecture.)

So, just had a thought re your city re travels around while there.

In Europe "EPAC" (electric power-assisted cycles) use has grown strongly of late (and according to one idea, we don't stay young forever, or have a dis-ability of some sort, hence the interest in battery motors. Smile)

So. Cleaner airs, smaller vehicles hence "wider roads", cheaper, etc.

Hence what I just wrote elsewhere...

And Vilnius thinks THEY "may have traffic problems"??? Compared to EG NA cities??? (Looking at YOU Toronto - infested today with private "SUV", previously "cars".) In "tourism" terms, 1) BAN CAR (for personal use in "urban" environments). With money saved, city could give away EPAC use. ( 2) on list.)

So:
1)BAN THE CAR
2)Turn Vilnius into a "car free destination" by introducing the updated 19-20th century "horseless carriage" via the EPAC.

Cheers Mister Mayor. Best to you and yours

LockH
Toronto, Canada

 

[LockH]

Would you believe it's part of my "job" (Owner/Operator "Phoenix Ebike Promotions" as seen elsewhere.)?


To do and write sneaky, fun (cheap) etc. stuff maybe. Like email above. "Angle" here, sell M re making/saving money. The usual. Hehe)















(Pay is lousy so far, but terrific fun.)



Ed: Vilnius Mayors position re some car operators already posted on ES:
[youtube]V-fWN0FmcIU[/youtube]