Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Connex jumps the shark
Read on.
Connex off rails in bid for bicycle scheme. June 21, 2009
It's tenure as Melbourne's rail operator has been marked by controversy. But now Connex also wants to run the city's new public bike network.
The State Government will launch the scheme next year in a bid to encourage short trips across the city on 600 hire bikes.
Among the bidders are French company Veolia — owner of Connex — which has been running Melbourne trains since 1999.
The bid follows news earlier this month that Veolia is looking to buy or take a major share in Transdev, which owns half of Yarra Trams.
A Veolia spokeswoman said the company ran similar bike schemes in Europe and Chicago. She said it was a world leader in public transport and would bring this experience to the bike scheme if it won the bid, which must be submitted by July 2.
Last week, Connex was fined $11 million for the delays and cancellations that brought the network almost to a stop as temperatures soared in summer.
Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the thought of Veolia running the bike scheme might outrage some commuters.
But Mr Bowen said he hoped the rail network's chronic problems had shown the Government it must fund any new public transport network adequately. "Bicycles can obviously develop faults, but on the bright side, a bicycle can't run late, won't suffer from signalling or track-buckling problems and should never get so crowded you can't get onto it," he said.
Meanwhile, a transport expert has called on the Government to look at repealing the 20-year-old mandatory helmet law to help the scheme succeed.
Elliot Fishman, from the Institute for Sensible Transport, is one of several experts who believe helmet laws could deter people from using the scheme.
Mr Fishman said the Government must look at the experiences of cities overseas to see if the health and environmental benefits of more people on bicycles outweigh the negatives of not wearing a helmet.
He said any law change must be supported by a reduction in CBD speed limits along with the introduction of other safety measures, which should also be looked at.
A Government spokesman said there were no plans to relax the helmet laws.
Connex off rails in bid for bicycle scheme. June 21, 2009
It's tenure as Melbourne's rail operator has been marked by controversy. But now Connex also wants to run the city's new public bike network.
The State Government will launch the scheme next year in a bid to encourage short trips across the city on 600 hire bikes.
Among the bidders are French company Veolia — owner of Connex — which has been running Melbourne trains since 1999.
The bid follows news earlier this month that Veolia is looking to buy or take a major share in Transdev, which owns half of Yarra Trams.
A Veolia spokeswoman said the company ran similar bike schemes in Europe and Chicago. She said it was a world leader in public transport and would bring this experience to the bike scheme if it won the bid, which must be submitted by July 2.
Last week, Connex was fined $11 million for the delays and cancellations that brought the network almost to a stop as temperatures soared in summer.
Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the thought of Veolia running the bike scheme might outrage some commuters.
But Mr Bowen said he hoped the rail network's chronic problems had shown the Government it must fund any new public transport network adequately. "Bicycles can obviously develop faults, but on the bright side, a bicycle can't run late, won't suffer from signalling or track-buckling problems and should never get so crowded you can't get onto it," he said.
Meanwhile, a transport expert has called on the Government to look at repealing the 20-year-old mandatory helmet law to help the scheme succeed.
Elliot Fishman, from the Institute for Sensible Transport, is one of several experts who believe helmet laws could deter people from using the scheme.
Mr Fishman said the Government must look at the experiences of cities overseas to see if the health and environmental benefits of more people on bicycles outweigh the negatives of not wearing a helmet.
He said any law change must be supported by a reduction in CBD speed limits along with the introduction of other safety measures, which should also be looked at.
A Government spokesman said there were no plans to relax the helmet laws.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jaeger on -
I like the Daniel Bowen quote, quite funny. It does get to a legitimate point though -- running a bike scheme would be a lot easier than a rail network. Another reasons why I wouldn't be frightened of Veolia is they don't have the locked in clientele with a new bike scheme. If the service is run badly, no-one will use it at all and they will lose money (different from the train network, where most people who use it have extremely unattractive transport alternatives).
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Permalink Reply by Ben Carr on -
wouldn't an Australian company be better and that could also keep profits (lets hope) here! There must be some company out there who are willing and able to have a go running this
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Permalink Reply by Jaeger on
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No doubt if an Australian company is better they will win the tender. If they're not, why would we want them to win? So that we can have a second-rate scheme but feel warm and fuzzy for buying local? If the buying local thing actually took off then nobody would be able to export Australian wine, and even worse, we would be robbing ourselves of such beauty as the fine work of BMC and Shimano, amongst many others. Buy international I say.
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Permalink Reply by Cory on -
Perhaps an Australian, or better yet, a Victorian GOVERNMENT would be better... eh?
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Permalink Reply by RobE on
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hmmm fish bike for shark to chase... Was chatting to a potential tenderer this week who is a major importer of utility bikes and medium low cost bikes into Australia and based in melb...and we got around to the landmine of liability in the event ( and highly likely events) of liability claims by riders/users and the general public for property damage and the conflict with TAC etc on personal injuries potential liability.
Key element is the helmet laws ( as existing schemes overseas dont require helmets) and as they stand here in Australia with compulsory helmet use laws there is the potential nightmare for anyone providing a helmet service to accompany the shared bike scheme or as an integral aspect of the hire arrangement... particularly the instruction on proper user, and any aspect of hygiene, let alone security. It was accepted that it is absurdly impractical to expect riders to bring their own helmet( as was suggested by someone who wears a bow tie)... all in all a very messy complex marketing user constraint and a massive liability issue.
It is a scary prospect for any Australian operator and it will be a brave company that puts its hand up without a removal of the compulsory helmet law ( at least for the CBD or shared bike area) and without an accompanying reduction in max CBD speed limits for motorised traffic of 30kph.
The accompanying prospect of a change in liability law was also discussed and considered desirable, ie: all drivers of vehicles( including bicycle riders as drivers of a bicycle) have an prima facie liability to any other road user of lesser mass and speed potential than themselves in the event of a collision, thus they must prove no fault on their part in the fist instance to avoid a) a penalty and b) liability for damages and injuries.
As it stands this potential tenderer valued his existing business survival and saving his children' s financial future from claims by reconsidering his proposal to be "not on your nelly" ... so Veolia by all means bring it on! ( if your international results justify it ( or your special deal to secure the Trains and Trams in Melbourne demand it!) but that is another discusion ( quiet class, hold that thought till later, its time for recess)
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Permalink Reply by trundlebug on -
Would I be right in thinking this is the same Connex that tried to ban bicycles on trains?
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that would be the Transport Ticketing Authority, which acted in consort with Connex, Bicycle Victoria and the Office of the Minister for substandard rail services to ban bicycles off peak direction bound morning or evening Connex services... each was shown to have a deceitful agenda, except the Minister, who still claims she was relying on advice, but for all intents and puposes was acting normally, ie: like two bricks under a pile of clay.
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Permalink Reply by trundlebug on
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I slump corrected. Connex are still tainted though. Mind you, JC Decaux wouldn't strike me as an obvious match either being an advertising company, but by all I've heard, they seem to be doing a splendid job,despite the predictable liabilities (theft, vandalism, injuries to users and several deaths on the often alarming roads of Paris).
I haven't used the Parisian Velibes (which look pretty groovy to my admittedly undiscerning eye), but I have used the clunkers in Copenhagen and while they're okay for pedalling about from hotel to pub on the flat, I wouldn't like to try to climb even the moderate inclines of the Melbourne CBD on one. Has anyone heard if the Melbourne discussions have gotten as far as actual bike designs?
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interesting you should raise this, as it has intrigued me and plenty of others in recent discussions in a few inner city and beach road coffee shops...
there are lots of systems around the world and albums of photos here (facebook link).
Veolia have taken over OYBIke for UK systems and they have a link for their " package" for self service bikes ( pdf format and their 07 ver)
World Streets have a downloadable report on World Schemes for Bike Sharing here.
firstly the spec design for CBD in Melb would need maybe a minimum 3 speed hub for coping with the bowl/rolling hill geography and would probably have disc brakes but Im sure wouldnt include an electric motor for extra support on the hills for the stockbroker getting from 40 Collins to 200 Collins then to 400 Collins set or shoppers with their IGA/Aldi basket/bags etc ( mperhaps that IS a must for Melb.!)... as for design, it would most likely be a step through, upright, sit up and beg with a laid back geometry and a long wheel base... ... but well you never know... these specs/design thoughts have been kicked around but little aired by the Govt, or any one in Connex/Veolia... anyone got a few more thoughts on what would and what wouldnt be practical for Melbum. bearing in mjnd these wont be speed machines, they wont be commuter dragfest machines and they will mainly be for dottering and short trips.... class...discuss amongst yourselves and report back for a brainstorm foggy cloud session.... we'll have a short break for coffee and muffins... did any one bring choc chip?
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