Bikes!

Paris bike share!

Pronto Cycle Share debuted in Seattle this week with the kick off of 500 bikes primarily around the University of Washington, South Lake Union, downtown Seattle and some of Capitol Hill.  I easily visualized sitting at a bar like I did with iRoxy, Lara and Vic in Copenhagen watching hundreds of people ride home from work.  Or in Paris, when Lara and I walked the City of Lights, with rivers of people biking by on beige colored bikes (of course) that were part of their ride share.  That maybe a little optimistic considering the hills and dreary weather that plagues Seattle but I was excited to try it out.

Wednesday's morning downpour convinced me not to bike to work though I initially dressed in my "bike" (workout) clothes.  I unpacked my bike bags, put on my work clothes and ask Lara for a ride - which was traffic mess because no one really seems to know how to drive in the rain - and someone had knocked down a traffic light which is impressive.  My boxing gear was in my backpack so that I could grab a bus to Cappy's at the end of the day.  A sun break in the afternoon gave me a chance to run test out Pronto. I didn't understand at first that you just rented the bikes from one place to another.  You have 30 minutes to get from your Point A to Point B.  I suddenly didn't like it and thought it was kind of dumb.  I mean I needed a bike to go to Cappy's and back downtown.  I needed to be able to lock it and go to my workout. However, I found a Pronto station only a few blocks from Cappy's at Madison Market and decided I would ride up the hill from the Paramount Building and park it.  Walk to Cappy's. Workout.  Then walk back and take a bike back downtown.

It was extremely easy.  Bought a "key" for my $8/day ride, grabbed a helmet (yes - they provide helmets), adjusted the seat, put everything in my backpack and up the hill I went.  It wasn't like riding my own bike. A little more upright (good for my quads) but I shifted into the easiest gear and went up the to Madison park with no problem.  I parked the bike in the station. Deposited the helmet and walked down to Cappy's on a beautiful fall evening.  

Getting back downtown was just as easy - as it was all downhill plus I was able to grab my same bike that I had already adjusted (after grabbing some hippie snacks from Madison Market).  I was able to take it to a station two blocks further from work and got to my bus stop just in time to catch a D bus home.  So. Easy.  I decided I would be an annual member for $85.  I was sure I would easily use the bike share 10 more times this year.   

I didn't realize that I would use it again today - as I left my bike lock key at home (damnit!) and didn't realize it in time to take the bus to my doctor's appointment.  My co worker found the Pronto bike station closest to where I was going - which was about 7 blocks away - and I made into the doctor's office with about 2 minutes to spare.  Biked back to work where my bike was securely parked and biked home.  

I'm totally sold on it for my short trips in the city and around downtown - which my day is filled with many of them.  I'm sold on the 30 minute limit, no need for locks, helmets provided (tho I used my own helmet today) and what I understand will be the expanded route. 

So my idea of sitting at bar watching hundreds of people bike by will probably look like me meeting my friends at the bar where we all arrive on bike - whether it's your own bike or a bike you've borrow for just 30 minutes.