Reinventing the wheel

20.06.2011                      18.Siwan, 5771

TA-Fahrradverleih:

Reinventing the wheel

Technical issues, shortages, vandalism and other problems are already plaguing the new bike-rental project in Tel Aviv; we've got something to learn from similar efforts in England and Europe.

Eight pairs of bright-green Tel-Ofan bicycles were standing at the corner of Begin and Harakevet Streets in Tel Aviv. The computerized system at the terminal there identified my membership, asked me for my code, instructed me to choose one of the bikes and a moment later I was already riding westward in the direction of Rothschild Boulevard and Allenby. I was glowing. The drivers around me were relatively polite, I didn't feel like I'd be run over and was humming to myself happily. Half an hour later I locked the bicycle near Rabin Square and, satisfied, went on my way….