Seville Cycle Hire

Just got back from Seville and managed to try out the hire scheme they have
there. Pretty impressed to be honest, Seville is well set up for local
cycling and the local peds are cycle aware. The bikes are pretty much sit up
and beg affairs and generally run reasonably well. [1] [2]

The hub computers worked pretty well, although the English T&C's were in
Spanish, so pretty much "accept and continue". [3]

The only problems I encountered were ...
/ hubs were full in central locations [4]
/ rates were fine [5], but above problem meant searching for another hub,
thus incurring costs

Anyway, here's a little vid of me following my brother on his bike ... [6]

Altogether, a really good scheme which works well. We cycled the couple of
miles to the train station to leave Seville which saved us a few quid ...
however, I think the whole thing cost me €9.00 .... so for just a day or so
riding, wasn't actually that cheap. (€5.00 to sign up, €1.00 for over half
an hour). Up to an hour would be ideal first time band ...

The deposit was €150.00, although not taken unless neccesary, just a
pre-authorisation. Was wondering whether stripping the bike would land me
with more than €150's worth of equipment ... probably not.

Nick

[1] My first bike had a bad back light, my third bike kept skipping out of
third.
[2] http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyob/2339914739/
[3] http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyob/2340711852/
[4] http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyob/2340710502/
[5] http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyob/2340714236/

[6] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p2f_M7VUGc

On Mar 17, 10:42 pm, "elyob" wrote:
Just got back from Seville and managed to try out the hire scheme they have
there. Pretty impressed to be honest, snip

It looks pretty impressive and well thought out from your photos
(locals may have a different opinion though!)

The hub computers worked pretty well, although the English T&C's were in
Spanish, so pretty much "accept and continue". [3]

Nice that most of the computer instructions are in English though. I
found this brilliant in France when buying train tickets. I think
some of the train ticket machines in the UK are multilingual which
must be a godsend for any visitors who can't speak English.

The only problems I encountered were ...
/ hubs were full in central locations [4]

Your photo of the hub computer shows an option for a 'long term (1
year)' rate. Is the scheme popular with indiginous folks who live in
the suburbs and frequently ride into the city centre in the day then
take the bikes home overnight?

/ rates were fine [5], but above problem meant searching for another hub,
thus incurring costs

Maybe some SMS or web based tool would be useful for locating hubs
with plenty of spaces (like the text a toilet thing in London)

Up to an hour would be ideal first time band ...

I guess they've got to make money somehow!

Just wondering, how are the bikes locked to the stands at the hubs?
It didn't look obvious to me from your photos but I haven't seen them
in real life!

peter

"naked_draughtsman" wrote in message
...
On Mar 17, 10:42 pm, "elyob" wrote:
Just got back from Seville and managed to try out the hire scheme they
have
there. Pretty impressed to be honest, snip

It looks pretty impressive and well thought out from your photos
(locals may have a different opinion though!)

From what I could see, it was being heavily used by the locals ...

The hub computers worked pretty well, although the English T&C's were in
Spanish, so pretty much "accept and continue". [3]

Nice that most of the computer instructions are in English though. I
found this brilliant in France when buying train tickets. I think
some of the train ticket machines in the UK are multilingual which
must be a godsend for any visitors who can't speak English.

The only problems I encountered were ...
/ hubs were full in central locations [4]

Your photo of the hub computer shows an option for a 'long term (1
year)' rate. Is the scheme popular with indiginous folks who live in
the suburbs and frequently ride into the city centre in the day then
take the bikes home overnight?

I think so, there were certainly lots of them out and about. The only place
we had difficulty returning the bikes was right in the centre in the evening
.... the next morning I saw a van turn up with a trailer, presumably to
"relocate" some of the bikes.

/ rates were fine [5], but above problem meant searching for another hub,
thus incurring costs

Maybe some SMS or web based tool would be useful for locating hubs
with plenty of spaces (like the text a toilet thing in London)

Definitely maps for other local hubs would be useful on each machine.

Up to an hour would be ideal first time band ...

I guess they've got to make money somehow!

The funny thing is that I saw some people cycle up, park their bike. Then
take it straight out again. Presumably to save the charge after half an
hour.

Just wondering, how are the bikes locked to the stands at the hubs?
It didn't look obvious to me from your photos but I haven't seen them
in real life!

I've added a note to the first photo, but basically there is a metal disc
welded to the side at the front. This slots into the bases on the ground.