• Home
  • SUBSCRIBE!
  • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
      • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
      • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus Bike Computers: Premium vs. Budget!
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
      • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
    • 9 New Features in the Garmin Edge 830
    • 7 of the Best Fitness Trackers for Cyclists – Fitbit and Garmin
    • How to Upload Your Bike Rides to Strava While Garmin Connect is Down
  • About
    • Start Here!
    • Contact Us
  • Product Reviews
    • 7 of the Best Cycling Jerseys for 2021
    • 7 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets and Dog Carriers
    • Garmin Edge and Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: Versus Posts!
        • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs. 830 vs. 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus: Premium vs. Budget!
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s NEW About the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus?
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs. Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
        • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Garmin Varia Vision and Varia Rear Light Radar
      • How to Upload Your Bike Rides to Strava While Garmin Connect is Down
    • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
    • Bike Computer Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
      • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65, 2020 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
      • Best Bike Computers, 2020 – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
      • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Cycling Gear Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women, 2021
        • 3 Regular-Looking Pants that Work Well as Cycling Pants
        • Showers Pass Rogue Cycling Pants – Review by Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist
      • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Women’s Cycling Jackets, 2020 – Waterproof and Windproof
        • Best Cheap Cycling Jackets under $100
        • Best Cycling Jackets
      • 9 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets for Men and Women, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Cycling Balaclavas to Keep Your Head Warm this Winter
      • Best Waterproof Cycling Gear for Men and Women, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Cheap Cycling Jackets Under $100
    • 90 Best Gifts for Cyclists – Our Ultimate Gift Guide for Cyclists
    • Bike Pannier Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2020 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
      • Best Waterproof Bike Panniers for Touring and Commuting: Ortlieb Bike Panniers
      • Best Commuter/Bike Touring Panniers: Two Wheel Gear Classic 2.0 Garment Pannier Review
    • Bike Light Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting, 2021
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Bike Lights
      • 3 of the best bike lights for commuter cyclists – Light & Motion Urban 350 vs. CatEye Volt 800 vs. NiteRider Lumina 750
    • Bike Saddles
      • 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles, 2021
      • How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
    • Headphone Reviews
      • 5 of the Best Headphones for Safe Cycling in 2021
    • Recumbent Trikes
  • Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
        • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s NEW About the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus?
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus Bike Computers: Premium vs. Cheap
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
        • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
    • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers
    • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65, 2020 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
    • Best Bike Computers, 2020 – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
    • 7 of the Best Bike Computers, 2020 – from Budget to Premium
  • Health Benefits
    • Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
      • How to Prevent Cycling Knee and Hip Pain – Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • How to Cure Cycling Knee Pain with a Miraculous, Cheap Cure
      • 7 Ways to Prevent Cycling Knee Pain
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Great Strength and Conditioning Exercises for Cyclists
      • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
    • Cycling and Strength
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
        • How Strength Training Can Boost Your Cycling Speed and Quality of Life
    • Cycling and Sleep
      • How Cycling Helps You to Sleep Better and Get Healthier
      • Why Cycling May Be the Sleep Aid You Need
      • How I Became a Bike Commuter and Shed Stress Immediately
      • One in Three Cyclists Experience Reduced Stress Levels
    • Cycling and Aging
      • Study Shows that Interval Training on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging
      • Study Shows that Cycling Really Does Fight Aging
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
        • How Strength Training Can Boost Your Cycling Speed and Quality of Life
        • 5 Great Strength and Conditioning Exercises for Cyclists
        • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
        • What Is the Function of Myelin in the Body?
    • Kids biking
      • 7 of the Best Baby and Child Bike Seats to Keep Your Child Safe – Reviews and Videos – 2020
      • 9 Simple Steps to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike
      • 5 Tips for Parents to Keep your Kids Safe on their Bikes
      • How to Transport Kids on Bikes (Video and Infographic)
      • 10 Family-Friendly USA Cycling Trails to Visit with the Kids
      • Babies and Bikes: How to Get Kids Active from the Start
      • How to Encourage Kids to Ride Bikes
        • How to Help your Kids Bike to School
A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

Average Joe Cyclist

A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

  • Cycling Training Plans
    • Our Most Successful Cycling Training Plans
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 2 – Interval Training
      • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
      • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
      • Top 10 Tips on How to Avoid a Sore Butt from Cycling
    • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
    • Workouts and Stretching for Cyclists
      • How to Prevent Cycling Knee and Hip Pain – Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • Updated Video: 3 Hip Stretches to Cure Cycling Hip Pain
      • Stop Doing Crunches! 10 Minute Core Workout for Cyclists
      • 5 Best Core Exercises for Cyclists
      • Muscle Stretching: The Cyclist’s Secret Skill – Why Stretching is Important for Cyclists
      • The 10 Best Stretches for Cyclists
    • How to Protect Your Testosterone Levels from Over-Training
    • 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Training (HIT) on Your Bike – And How to Add Interval Training to Your Cycling
      • Study Shows that Interval Training on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging
      • Research shows Amazing Benefits of Sprint Intervals in Cycling
    • 7 Top Tips to Help You Keep Mountain Biking after Age 40
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
  • Indoor Cycling Training
    • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
    • 5 of the Best Smart Indoor Trainers for Effective Indoor Training
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • What is a Smart Turbo Indoor Trainer?
  • Cycling with Dogs
    • 7 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets and Dog Carriers
    • Complete Guide to Taking Your Dog on Bike Rides in a Bike Basket
    • 6 Steps to Gently Train Your Dog to Go On Bike Rides With You
  • Lose Weight!
    • Cycling and Weight Loss
      • 7 Steps to Lose Weight by Cycling
      • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
      • Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
      • 5 Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
      • The Top 10 Ride Your Way Lean Eating Rules, for Effective Weight Loss
      • How Cycling to Lose Weight Saved Phil’s Life – Heartwarming Video
    • A Guide for Fat Cyclists
    • Our Best Lose Weight with Cycling Posts
    • Cycling Nutrition
      • Best Matcha Tea for Cyclists: My Matcha Life
        • How to Make Matcha Tea
      • How Protein Helps your Post Bike Ride Recovery
      • 5 Best Protein Supplements for Exercise Recovery and Health
    • Cycling Training Plans
      • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
      • Our Most Successful Cycling Training Plans
      • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
      • 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Training (HIT) on Your Bike – And How to Add Interval Training to Your Cycling
    • Cycling and Health
  • Tips & How-Tos
    • How to Prevent & Cure Cycling Knee Pain
      • How to Cure Cycling Knee Pain with a Miraculous, Cheap Cure
      • How to Prevent Cycling Knee and Hip Pain – Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 7 Ways to Prevent Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
    • Bike maintenance
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
    • How to Keep your Bike from being Stolen – Top 10 Tips
      • 7 of the Best Bike Locks to Keep Your Bike Safe, 2021
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
    • How to Pick the Right Size Bike – Complete Bike Frame Size Guide
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • Complete Guide to How to Buy and Sell Bikes on Craigslist
    • How to Understand Bike Terminology
  • Bike Commuting
    • Bike Commuting Tips
      • How to Set Up a Commuter Bike
      • 9 Useful Tips for Women Bike Commuters
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2020 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
      • Top 10 Tips on How to Avoid a Sore Butt from Cycling
      • How Women Cyclists Can Prevent Saddle Soreness and Associated Issues
        • How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
      • 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles, 2021
      • The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Try to Start Bike Commuting
      • Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer?
      • Best Commuter/Bike Touring Panniers: Two Wheel Gear Classic 2.0 Garment Pannier Review
    • Winter Cycling
      • Our Top Tips to Keep You Warm and Dry for Fall and Winter Cycling
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Cold Weather Cycling
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2020 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
    • Benefits of Being a Bike Commuter
      • Ten Reasons to be a Bike Commuter
      • Survey Shows London Bike Commuters are Happier and More Productive
      • What Is the Function of Myelin in the Body?
      • Research shows that cycling makes your brain grow!
      • 5 Ways that Cycling Boosts Your Brain Function
    • Bike Maintenance
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • How To Clean Your Bike Chain the Easy Way
      • How to Set Up a Commuter Bike
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
      • Inspirational Video: How to Fix a Bike Flat – with No Hands
    • Cycling Infrastructure
      • 4 Benefits of Separated Bike Lanes
      • 3 Reasons Why We Need Separated Bike Lanes
      • Research reveals a surprising benefit of separated bike lanes
      • Montreal Cycling, Part 3: Separated Bike Lanes – What Other Cities can Learn from Montreal
      • Cycling and the Post-Covid Transformation
    • Safety for Cyclists
      • How to Use Bike Reflectors to Be More Visible
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting, 2021
You are here: Home / Cycling Reviews / Bike Share Systems / Bike Share in Brisbane – Could this be the Most Tourist-Unfriendly Bike Share System in the World?

Bike Share in Brisbane – Could this be the Most Tourist-Unfriendly Bike Share System in the World?

August 10, 2015 by Average Joe Cyclist

Pin
Share
Tweet

AvatarBrisbane’s bike share program, CityCycle, is not a success – and the law requiring that users wear helmets is just part of the problem. Based on my experience of the system, Brisbane’s bike share system is failing mainly because of epic unfriendliness.

Citycycle station in Brisbane
A CityCycle station in Brisbane

Maggie (Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist) and I are great fans of bike share systems, and actually choose our travel destinations based on whether cities offer them. We went to Brisbane specifically to try out the bike share system, and found out that the city has cleverly set up a system that excludes tourists (!) We looked forward to a day spent exploring the city on bikes, interspersed with stops for breakfast and lunch. Instead, we had a day of maddening frustration.

We have experienced the wonderful Bixi bike share system in Montreal, and so we assumed that all bike share systems are really easy to use. (Read all about the marvelous Montreal bike share system here.)

That was our first mistake.

Our Long, Long Search for a CityCycle Bike Share Station

We saw beautiful Australian White Ibis at Streets Beach in Brisbane
We saw beautiful Australian White Ibis at Streets Beach in Brisbane

We took a train to Brisbane, and got off at South Bank Station, which is right next to one of the most popular tourist areas. This area includes the whimsical Streets Beach, a small but appealing man-made beach, situated right next to the Brisbane River. We figured there MUST be a bike share station at such a popular tourist site.

That was our second mistake.

Of course, we had made that mistake based on our (entirely erroneous) assumption that Brisbane would actually WANT tourists to use their bikes. Revenue, convenience for tourists – what’s not to want?

As we couldn’t find a bike share station, we went to Tourist Info, but they weren’t open yet. So we decided to get our bearings by touring the city via the City Cat ferry system. We thought we might be able to spot a bike share station from the ferry.

That was our third mistake.

The City Cat is a brilliant way to get around Brisbane
The City Cat is a brilliant way to get around Brisbane

The City Cat is a brilliant way to get around Brisbane. We bought a two-hour chunk of time for nine Aussie dollars. We looked out eagerly for bike share stations at every port of call. We saw one at West End. However, at that point we had used up very little of our two hours, so we decided to use up more of it, and THEN disembark at a bike share station. Bad choice.

All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Chart and Videos
Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

Finally Finding a CityCycle Bike Share Station!

We enjoyed a pleasant tour of Brisbane from the water, but did not see another bike share station until almost all of our two hours was used up. We looked out eagerly at every stop, but could not seem to find one.

I considered offering a prize for the first person to spot a CityCycle station from the CityCat ferry
Getting desperate, I considered offering a prize for the first person to spot a CityCycle station from the CityCat ferry
I think I see a CityCycle station!
I think I see a CityCycle station!
Helmets are also mandatory to ride a CityCycle bike in Brisbane - presumably, this is the main reason why most of them are parked rather than ridden
We FINALLY spotted this CityCycle station from our ferry

Once we found a CityCycle station, we quickly disembarked, eager to get on the bikes after two hours of sitting on the ferry. We figured we were just minute’s away now. Wrong!

We noted that some of the bikes had helmets locked to them, which we thought was pretty clever. One can either bring one’s own helmet or just rent a bike that has one. However, we had bought our own. They also come with locks attached, which is a good idea because you could park somewhere other than at a bike share station.

Another good thing about the system is that it costs only $2 a day, providing one does not keep the bike for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Wow, we thought, it looks like we will both be able to ride all day for just $4.

We spent a long time trying to make sense of the CityCycle system
We spent a long time trying to make sense of the CityCycle system

We spent a long time trying to make sense of the CityCycle system. (We had previously used a bike share in Montreal. There, you simply step up to the station, swipe a credit card, get a secret code, and select a bike.) So I started pushing buttons optimistically on the machine. It promptly offered me two useless choices: either input our registration numbers (which apparently were printed on the tax invoices we did not have), or swipe our Go Cards (which as tourists we obviously did not have. These are transit passes issued to locals for the transit systems).

The sign promised us that we could get the magical registration number either by logging onto the CityCyle website, OR by phoning a toll free number
The sign promised us that we could get the magical registration number either by logging onto the CityCyle website, OR by phoning a toll free number. Note the other puzzled tourists in the background. I am not sure why CityCycle doesn’t just put up a sign with a skull and crossbones saying “LOCALS ONLY!”

Frustrated, we read the sign again. Apparently we could get the magical registration number either by logging onto the CityCyle website, OR by phoning a toll free number. As I had not purchased international roaming data for my iPhone, logging in was not an option. And we couldn’t go back home to log in, as “home” was either 100 km away (my sister’s house) or 11,859 km away (our home in Vancouver). Still, the sign clearly stated that we could also register by phoning the toll-free number. So we thought that would solve our problem.

Death by Phone Message

I phoned the number reluctantly, because I had only purchased 15 international phone minutes, and they were supposed to be reserved for emergencies. However I was about to have a stroke from sheer fury at the user unfriendliness of the CityCycle system, and I decided that imminent stroke counted as an emergency. I dialed the number and listened to an endless phone message, giving me every possible detail except how to get a bike. This included this kind of thing:

“For 1 hour you will be charged $2.20” all the way through to “For 24 hours you will be charged $165.” By this point I was pretty much apoplectic with rage, as I watched my precious phone minutes ticking away. At the end of all this (for me) utterly useless information, as my last minute was about to disappear, the message happily told me that registering was simple – just go to the web site!!!! At that point I kind of wished I had a regular phone so that I could SLAM it down. I contented myself with shoving my cell phone savagely back into its holster.

Ever optimistic and still trusting in the power of human intelligence to set up an intelligent system, we set off to catch another ferry to the Tourist Info Office. We were certain they would be able to sort it out. After all, the city of Brisbane has excellent cycling infrastructure – why wouldn’t they have an excellent bike share system?

Brisbane cycling infrastructure is impressive
Brisbane cycling infrastructure is impressive

Fun Times at the Brisbane Tourist Info Office

We finally got back to the Info Office on Southbank, which was now open – and staffed by the first unfriendly person we had met in Australia. (Strange that one of the very few thoroughly unfriendly and unpleasant people in Australia should choose to work in a Tourist Info office.)

She snapped at us that: “We have NOTHING to do with the CityCycle system. That’s the Brisbane City Council.” She explained that in order to use a CityCycle bike, we would have to:

  1. Go online to log in and register
  2. Be issued with a number
  3. Bring it back to the Info office
  4. Be issued with another number
  5. Go to a bike share station and use that number to get a bike.

“But that makes it pretty much impossible for tourists to use the system,” I protested.

“Yes, it is impossible for tourists, but that’s not MY fault – we have NOTHING to do with them,” she snapped back at me.

I was glad there was a counter between us.

She then gave us a flyer for a bike hire company, situated about a mile’s walk away. We had been informed by our copy of Lonely Planet’s Guide to the Gold Coast and Brisbane that the Tourist Info centers would be able to give us Cycling Maps of Brisbane. So I asked for one. The woman told me that they did not exist, because “they” expect you to download them. However, the generic map of Brisbane had the bike lanes indicated with little red dashes, so she gave us one of those.

Settling for Bike Hire

We finally saw our first (moving) CityCycle bike of the day - and it was ridden by a woman!
We finally saw our first (moving) CityCycle bike of the day – and it was ridden by a woman!

So off we trudged to the Bike Hire. It was during this walk that we finally saw our first (moving) CityCycle bike of the day, at the foot of the Goodwill Bridge. It was ridden by a woman. This is worth remarking on – we had seen a lot of cyclists since we arrived, largely of the steel-muscled, greyhound-lean, Lycra-clad, racing-bike-riding kind – and all male. This was the first woman we had seen on a bike. If it is true that the percentage of women cyclists is a barometer of cycling’s health in a city, then Brisbane cycling is in trouble.

Gil Penalosa, who runs Toronto-based consultancy 8-80 Cities, describes women cyclists as the “indicator species” for how bike-friendly a city is. “If there aren’t at least as many women as men, then usually it’s because cycling is not safe enough. It’s an indicator that you do not have good enough cycling infrastructure.” In London, for example, where cycling is still very dangerous, only 26% of cyclists are female. Yet of the eight cyclists killed so far this year in London, six were women – and all of those six women were crushed by lorries. (Source: The Guardian)

We had seen a lot of cyclists since we arrived in Brisbane, largely of the steel-muscled, greyhound-lean, Lycra-clad, racing-bike-riding kind – and all male.
We had seen a lot of cyclists since we arrived in Brisbane, largely of the steel-muscled, greyhound-lean, Lycra-clad, racing-bike-riding kind – and all male.

So too is the CityCycle system in Brisbane – we had arrived in the city at 8.00 a.m., and did not see a CityCycle bike actually moving till 11.25 a.m.

By contrast, Bixi’s are ubiquitous in Montreal. You cannot walk a block without seeing them.

Our walk took us through the beautiful Brisbane Botanic Gardens, where we inhaled jacaranda, hibiscus, and jasmine, and tried very hard to look on the bright side. After all, it was a pleasant enough walk, and soon we would actually be on bikes, albeit not CityCycle bike share bikes. Also, wherever we walked we noticed a truly excellent infrastructure of bike pathways, largely shared with pedestrians. We crossed the Goodwill Bridge, which is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians only. In true Australian fashion, pedestrians and cyclists share the road in a very good-natured way.

Wherever we walked in Brisbane we noticed a truly excellent infrastructure of bike pathways, largely shared with pedestrians
Wherever we walked in Brisbane – and we ended up walking a LOT – we noticed a truly excellent infrastructure of bike pathways, largely shared with pedestrians

We finally found the bike hire company, Cycle Hire, which turned out to be a van parked in the Botanic Gardens, manned by a very pleasant, laid-back guy (very much the norm among the people we met in Australia). He looked up curiously as we approached, because I was photographing him and his van (much as one might photograph the Holy Grail if one ever found it).

Cycle Hire Brisbane - The owner looked up and gave me a "What are you photographing, mate?" look as I approached with my camera
Cycle Hire Brisbane – The operator looked up from his lunch and gave me a “What are you photographing, mate?” look as I approached with my camera

To explain, I said, “We FINALLY found you!” He asked where we had come from on our quest for bikes, and I replied “Canada!” This caused much all-round merriment, and I started to get over the foul temper the utterly unfriendly CityCycle system had put me in. Soon we were the best of friends.

Soon we were the best of friends with the operator of Cycle Hire in the Botanic Gardens, Brisbane
Soon we were the best of friends with the operator of Cycle Hire in the Botanic Gardens, Brisbane

We were offered a wide choice of pretty basic bikes – not exciting, but certainly good enough to get around the mostly flat cycle paths. They came with flimsy locks, all of which had the same combination. We noticed that all bikes were locked up in this trusting way (unlike in Vancouver, where I lock my bike with three Kryptonite locks, which together seem to weigh about a hundred pounds).

We noticed that all bikes were locked up in a trusting way with flimsy locks in Brisbane - very impressive
We noticed that all bikes were locked up in a trusting way with flimsy locks in Brisbane – very impressive

We spent the rest of the day on our rented bikes, and had a pretty good time. But I was severely disappointed by the CityCycle system. It doesn’t need a helmet law to bring it down – the sheer cumbersome user-unfriendliness of the system should do it.

I understand that the Brisbane City Council wants security for their bikes, but how about a combination of registration for locals and credit cards for visitors? The credit card system takes a large, temporary deposit from your credit card, and refunds it when you return the bike. Simple, easy, safe. If it’s good enough for Montreal (recently voted the top cycling city in North America), surely it is good enough for Brisbane?

Brisbane - beautiful city - pity about the bike share ...
Brisbane – beautiful city – pity about the bike share …

Did you like this post? If so, please support our blog:

We would appreciate it very much if you would SHARE this post (using the Share buttons) or LIKE our Facebook page. Or click on one of the Amazon links before buying from Amazon, because small commissions help pay for our time. BEST OF ALL – just SUBSCRIBE to our blog. It makes you part of our community, and gets you free weekly updates about our posts – as well as a FREE DOWNLOAD of our Bike Buyer’s Guide. Thanks in advance – reader support keeps us going and makes it all worthwhile!

Related

Pin
Share
Tweet

Filed Under: Bike Share Systems Tagged With: Bike commuters, Bike share, Bike share Brisbane, Bike share systems, Brisbane bike share, Cycling Advocacy

  • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530

Welcome to Average Joe Cyclist!

Average Joe CyclistWelcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, an average cyclist, and I write a blog for people like me. People who love cycling but will probably never win any races, and who don’t necessarily look good in Lycra! I also write the Electric Bikes Blog and Average Joe's RV Living Blog. To find our most popular posts, check out our Start Here page.

Mrs Average Joe Cyclist - MaggieHi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist). Joe and I have done a lot of cycling, and we share what we have learned on this blog . We also write reviews of cycling products and trails! Get to know us better HERE.

How our Product Links Work

  • You pay EXACTLY the same price, whether you use our links or go direct to the websites.
  • Earning some commission enables us to spend more time writing posts 🙂
  • THANK YOU to all the good people who have bought through our links. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Shop at Amazon in the USA.

Amazon USAShop at Amazon in Canada.

Amazon CanadaShop at Amazon in the UK.

Amazon UK

Search Average Joe Cyclist!

Trending – Our Top Posts Right Now!

  • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
  • A Guide for Fat Cyclists. I am not exactly your stereotypical cyclist with the body of a greyhound. However, I don’t let my weight stop me from cycling. This was a 15-mile cross-country ride I did with my wife. We are pushing our bikes here because we were on loose gravel A Guide for Fat Cyclists
  • This bike is a little too large, so the rider can only just stand over it. She would need a bike at least once size smaller to be completely comfortable Complete Bike Frame Size Guide – Bike Frame Measurement and Size Chart
  • We simply did not evolve to sit in front of a computer all day. No wonder exercise is such a mood lifter, when we actually get out and do it. 7 Steps to Lose Weight by Cycling
  • The 10th Annual Ride to Conquer Cancer Presented by Wheaton Precious Metals. Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1
  • tips for success lose weight cycling Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
  • 7 of the best waterproof cycling pants for men and women 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women, 2021
  • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT

​

Special Offer for Average Joe Cyclist Readers – Get 10% off a New Totem Pole Bike Rack!

Transport up to 6 bikes with the revolutionary new Totem Pole Bike Rack! AND get a 10% discount off the price! Just use the discount code AVERAGEJOE

Click here to claim your discount!

9 of the best road bike saddles

How Women Cyclists can prevent saddle soreness and associated issues

World's first folding electric carbon bike

Copyright © 2021 · Average Joe Cyclist, please contact us for syndication rights.