The automatic Bike Dispenser -- like PEZ but good for you

For those not familiar with portable-urban travel: that's a bicycle. In fact, it's one of several bicycles wedged inside this "Bike Dispenser" created by the Dutch-based (of course) design agency, Springtime. The concept has actually been floating around since 2005 in The Netherlands but it recently won the Spark Design & Architecture Award causing the world to take notice. The idea here is to offer these RFID-tagged bikes to riders in cities supporting bike rental or bike exchange programs. The garages then, would be conveniently scattered around places like train stations and tourist hot-spots to automagically dispense your new ride. This automated system has completed a pilot and is now being worked into the national OV-fiets (public transport bicycle) service in Holland which rents a bicycle for € 2.75 ($3.71) per 20 hours. Unfortunately, the Bike Dispenser relies upon a uniform bicycle design leaving it helpless to relieve the crushing mass of "parked" bicycles seen in Amsterdam and like-minded cities across Europe and Asia. Still, as a quick and dirty, eco-transport solution in-a-box, what's not to like?

[Via Core77 Design Blog]

[Nick K. @ Aug 15th 2007 9:51AM]

I forgot how to ride a bike. I'm ashamed.

[jfls @ Aug 15th 2007 4:26PM]

Just get on one and it'll come back to you. It's just like riding a bike.

[Kennyb123 @ Aug 15th 2007 9:53AM]

Good idea, but if someone steals the bike before you get it to a return center... only RFID will save it. Nobody would be able to identify stolen bikes if there are hundreds or thousands of them rolling around the city. You pay 3.71 for the first 20 hours, and somoene else pays nothing for as long as they want! And, I'm guessing you are footed the bill for the bike. If I'm way off on this, feel free to correct me... don't say I'm a complete idiot etc. like some of you guys like to do! I'm completely open to correction...

[Nick K. @ Aug 15th 2007 10:01AM]

Well, they might be able to monitor the progress of each bike. If they see one that is out for a longer period, they can just tag it and find it.

[eric f. @ Aug 15th 2007 10:03AM]

wonderful idea. there have been many times in the city when I have wished I had a borrowed bike to get across town.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 15th 2007 10:13AM]

Extremely cool, both in concept and implementation.

[noahmacnoah @ Aug 15th 2007 10:39AM]

This program has already rolled out in the Netherlands and then in Paris. When I was there in the spring they were installing banks of bike stations all over Paris. You ride from one to another and lock the bike, then you take a new bike back. There was a bike station about every 5 blocks or so it felt like - it's a pretty massive project but really amazing and one I'm looking forward to using the next time I'm back there.

[JBo @ Aug 15th 2007 11:11AM]

Great idea but you need to be an itty bitty person to be comfortable on one of those things. I can't see myself ever using one unless they offered adult sizes. I'm not just talking girth here, height too.

[Thomas Ricker @ Aug 15th 2007 11:19AM]

JBo,

The Dutch are the tallest nation on earth. These bikes (and other folding bikes like them) extend to fit larger frames.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height#Average_adult_height_around_the_world

Thomas

[Cpt.Scarecrow @ Aug 15th 2007 11:26AM]

They probably are one size fits all, which will mean it won't be to great of a ride, but decent enough to get you to your destination.

Here in Holland public transport is free for students, would be awesome if those bike would be free for us as well!

[JD @ Aug 15th 2007 11:43AM]

How tall does one have to be to ride this bike? I looks like it was designed for Shaq!

[oshean @ Aug 15th 2007 11:53AM]

what's not to like?....the previous rider's flat tire.

[CT @ Aug 15th 2007 11:54AM]

In Madison, WI there are just free bikes. They are painted bright red and pretty ugly but you can just grab one and leave it at any bike rack. Works well for all the students.

But Pez Dispenser would be so much cooler.

[Rob @ Aug 15th 2007 12:01PM]

Velib, as the Paris system is called works pretty well. You subscribe for €1/day, €5/week, or €29/year, and you can borrow bikes for half an hour at a time for free by swiping your card. After that you pay €1/half-hour. There is meant to be a station every 300m. I'm 6'4" and the adjustable saddle fits me fine. It's a surprisingly well-thought out system, and the Google Maps widget on their site even lets you know where there are bikes, and spaces, available. A great way to see Paris. The site (in French): http://www.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche/les_velos

[Typhoid Mary @ Aug 15th 2007 1:13PM]

+ Great idea.
- Ugliest bicycle in the universe.

[James @ Aug 15th 2007 2:28PM]

You forget, they want to keep people from stealing/selling these -- "ugly" is a feature, not a bug.

[Typhoid Mary @ Aug 15th 2007 4:52PM]

Your right James.
Now I know why all those bicycles I saw when I visited Amsterdam were just as ugly and beaten up looking-- "Hood Bikes" :)

[enno @ Aug 15th 2007 3:07PM]

we have such a system in stockholm, minus the ridiculous garage...

it´s more a bicycle stand you lock your bike into..
the good thing: it has a yearly membership that allows you to take out bikes as often as you like during a season... all that for less than 30$.

only annoying restriction: bikes have to be back by 9pm, and you may lend a bike up until 6pm only..
www.stockholmcitybikes.com

[Mark @ Aug 15th 2007 5:12PM]

Is a parking attendant that expensive?

[martin @ Aug 16th 2007 2:18AM]

Vienna has a similar system in place for 2 years now, and its working quite well. Also, it does not rely on a bulky "dispenser garage", but rather on special wheelbases.

http://www.citybikewien.at/

[Ebbe Kristensen @ Aug 16th 2007 4:27AM]

"What's not to like?"

The price for one thing. In Copenhagen it costs a DKK 20 deposit (about USD 3.50) to borrow a bike. You get the money back when you leave the bike in one of the dedicated bike-racks. See more at:
http://www.bycyklen.dk/english/thecitybikeandcopenhagen.aspx

[Adrianj @ Aug 21st 2007 10:12PM]

They have something similar to this in Paris. I was there on holidays last week and wanted so badly to try it out, but we didn't have enough time.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23407716-details/Mayor+wants+London+to+copy+Paris+bike+rentals/article.do

[Andrew @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:13PM]

We've had this for so many years now here in Norway. It's financed by ads on the bikes and billboards next to the stand. More and more cities are getting in on the deal. Surprisingly the capital, Oslo, was not the first city to get it.

[SimonT @ Oct 16th 2007 7:29AM]

That can't be dutch bike:

it looks newer than 1900
It has brakes
It has gears