“I've noticed the Hourbike sites and thought them a great idea, but have to agree that the number of locations is far too limited for it to be viable. I don't understand the problem with putting them at stations in the city; this would be perfect for visitors to the city, and would take up about the same amount of space as 1 parking space, if the existing sites are anything to go by! Who's going to use the service if they have a long walk to reach the bike, then another long walk back from wherever they leave it?

With regard to the hills, there are solutions, without having to think too hard; I remember a trip into the Swiss Alps, mountains thousands of feet high, and people used their bikes. For those who struggled with hills, each bus had a row of hooks on the back to accommodate a bike. If they can manage it, then why not use some of the so-called 'cycling city' money (which they're supposedly having trouble spending!) to assist the Hourbike expansion and fund other, sensible solutions to the issues raised?

Lastly, I fail to understand why any cycling-related report here invariably descends into an exchange of insults between car users and cyclists. I love driving, but hate traffic jams, so it seems only sensible where possible to cycle around the 'car park' that is Bristol. And no, I'm not a 'red light jumper' or pavement cyclist, and get just as annoyed when I see cyclists flouting the rules of the road as when drivers do the same thing. Difference is, the idiot cycling through a red light, or against traffic, or without lights at midnight, is far more of a danger to himself than to the driver they infuriate (often me). On the other hand, a car driver jumping the lights, or not paying attention due to being deep in conversation on their phone, will invariably come out far better than the cyclist they knock off their bike. And don't get me started on the drivers who claim to deliberately aim for/annoy/scare ANY cyclist they happen to meet >:(”

“A response to this article:

A report in the Evening Post claimed that the initiative was "struggling to get off the ground". The newspaper pointed out that eight of the 18 bikes deployed at four city centre hubs had "disappeared", a promised rental point at Bristol Temple Meads train station had yet to materialise and only 240 people had subscribed to the scheme.

BikeRadar spoke exclusively to Tim Caswell of Hourbike, the Surrey-based company which runs the scheme. He denied it was in trouble, saying: "Yes, eight of the 18 bikes have been removed ¿ by us, simply to tailor the system to meet the current demand.

"We've met with Bristol City Council's planning department only recently to try to progress installation at Bristol Temple Meads station. The station is a heritage site and accordingly it has been a real challenge to satisfy all parties concerned. We are hopeful we can come up with a solution though.

"It's true only 240 have signed up to the scheme, but it's still a pilot and has only received an injection of £4,000 from Bristol City Council."

The bike sharing project has been billed as a pilot scheme since its launch in November 2008 on the campuses of the University of the West of England. In July four new hubs appeared in the city centre ¿ in Anchor Square, at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and in Wine Street. Hourbike was also behind the introduction of Blackpool's hire bike scheme earlier this year.

Caswell said: "Throughout Europe successful schemes receive widespread support from local authorities who see it as part of a competitively priced public transport system. We believe Hourbike in Bristol would be a huge success if expanded into a full-blown city-wide scheme, but this is in the hands of the city council."

He added: "There was a widespread perception that Hourbike was part of the multi-million-pound Cycling City bid and has since been dropped, but this was never the case. Of course, we would love to be included in the Cycling City project and to receive some of the funds in order to expand the project."

Elsewhere, it has recently been revealed that Paris's huge and very popular Velib bike hire scheme has had to receive support from taxpayers ¿ not part of its original funding plan ¿ due to the high rate of stolen and missing bikes.”

“All this talk has convinced me, I'm going to give up cycling to work and start driving. Gene Hunt, James/Bob from Highbridge and all that lot have got a point.

I can be in the warmth listening to music. The queue may have just gottena little longer and the M32 might be more of a car park, but at least I am warm.

I never used to run red lights but at least I will be able to speed in my car when the queues abate. I could also jump into the bus lanes without looking behind me when I get bored.

I'm a competent driver capable of driving around the smallest vehicle on the round but who says I can't have a good moan about how much room they take.

Nevermind the initiatives encouraging us to take more exercise, arteries are supposed be stiff.

Yes that is what the Council should be spending their money encouraging us to do. They should tell us all just to get in our cars that has to be the best solution.”

“£4,000 is peanuts, a drop in the ocean, small fry compared with the tens of thousands the council spends on other improvements to the city..

In fact, a lot of people have said the scheme is ineffective, because NOT ENOUGH MONEY was spent - seems like that amount could be doubled or even trebled and we'd be closer to the investment required.”

“"Hourbike is a private company which has so far been given £4,000 by Bristol City Council. It was due to receive another £4,000 from the council once fully operational and another £4,000 a year after that."

That looks like part of MY money to me.”

“...Because our money, which could have been spent on improving our dreadful public transport, is being wasted on this "Cycling City" nonsense...
Apart from the fact that, currently, Hourbike isn't part of the Cycling City scheme and is, if it is ever implemented properly, part of the public transport system, I would totally agree that more money needs to be spent on public transport.
I take it that you're not in favour of the scheme, then, Rob and Hedgehog. ;-)”

“'Complete bunkum'? You ought to read some of the swivel-eyed idiotic rhetoric whenever cyclists try to justify their law-breaking red light jumping and pavement riding then.

You took the words out of my mouth, 'Hedgehog'.”

“Exactly the same is happening in Cardiff. A bike scheme started this year along precisely the same lines, but I've barely seen anyone ride them.

I think they are complicated to register etc.”

“"Begs the question: if you have no interest in the subject why bother to click on or even read the news item? And even more to the point, why even bother going to the trouble to type such an antagonistic and negative outburst?"

Because our money, which could have been spent on improving our dreadful public transport, is being wasted on this "Cycling City" nonsense.”

“...the majority of the pro-cycling lobby seem to think that they've discovered the secret of alchemy and anyone who disagrees with them is an anti-Christ...
Needless to say I think that is way over the top. And complete bunkum, too.
Begs the question: if you have no interest in the subject why bother to click on or even read the news item? And even more to the point, why even bother going to the trouble to type such an antagonistic and negative outburst?
Most odd.”