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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on December 18, 2014 at 3:18am

"Primary bike sharing / bike library Models:

1. Let-loose: Multiple locations used for lending with no membership and no real tracking system.  These programs tend to experience high rates of mechanical problems and rapid evaporation of their inventory, and subsequent burnout of volunteers.
2. Controlled Network: Several bike stations used for a short-term or relatively short-term lending/checkout program that involves membership and keeping track of who has the bike for how long. There is high administrative/communications burden.  Even so, inventory tends gets lost fairly quickly. High volunteer demand can lead to volunteer burnout and high volunteer turn over, which exhausts the program.
3. Single Source: One bike station used as a bike maintenance clinic and single source for bike lending - generally more long-term lending than quick trips around city.  This is the furthest from the altruistic ideal, but it tends to be the most stable, and have the greatest longevity.

One factor that seems to boost sustainability is personal ownership of and investment in bikes. For example, ask for nominal money or volunteer commitment for each bike distributed in order to deter bike-trashing.

Also, having a single location with regularly scheduled shop hours helps build community, increases our volunteer base, and ensures that there is enough income to keep the program going.

The idea of bike sharing is fabulous, but bike lending/adopting seems to work better. You don't have to abandon all the sharing -- you still can share tools, skills, good humor, etc."

http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/freebike/details.htm

http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/freebike/directory/index.htm

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