Passage III

Form Follows Function

Many cities are adorning their public transportation systems by implementing bike-share programs. Bikes docked at stations throughout these cities provide commuters and tourists with another mode of transit for short, in-city trips. A person can take a bike (usually for a small fee) from one station, ride it, and then return it to another station near his or her destination. Programs vary based on cities' unique conditions, but one thing is consistent, bike-share bikes—often described as clunky or even ugly—don’t look like ordinary bikes. There are, however, good reasons for that.

Bike-share bikes are designed to be durable and easy to repair. Steel, not lightweight aluminum, is the preferably material for building sturdy bike frames. To minimize mechanical problems, many programs provide single-speed or three-speed bikes: fewer gears means fewer repairs. In hilly cities, where more gears are essential, bikes are equipped with enclosed, or internal, hub gears, they protect the gears from weather- or contact-related damage.

Some bike features have been specifically chosen to prevent theft. Painting all the bikes one color, however, makes them easily identifiable. [A] Another theft deterrent is the use of not your ordinary bike parts. [B] Because the goal of many bike thieves is to reuse or sell individual parts; components incompatible with non-bike-share bikes are relatively useless to thieves. [C] Other bike modifications make city riding practical. A front basket or rear rack accommodates bags or briefcases. [D] To keep riders' clothing clean and dry, they are outfitted with fenders and mud flaps to prevent riders from getting dirty. Some bikes have chain guards, encasements that prevent bike chains from rubbing grease on riders' pants. Bright lights and an upright seating position help the rider see and be seen.(43)

As cities continue to experiment, bike-share programs are becoming more sophisticated, adopting "smart" technologies, such as: GPS and WiFi. (45) Chances are, though, that one thing won’t change: the bikes will still stand out.