Slog - Comments on Sims (Now) Solid for Obama http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama Just ran into King County Executive Ron Sims on the way to the Pepsi Center. You may recall his fervent support, as a superdelegate, for Hillary Clinton—until she dropped out of the race. But if you ask him about all that here in Denver, it's in the past. "That was a long time ago," he told me. A side note: I'd spotted Sims while riding down the street on one of the free bicycles that are being handed out here this week. Here's mine: There's no reason Seattle can't do this—offer free bikes in the downtown core to conventioneers... Copyright 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:10:27 -0800 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:40:44 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by elswinger We won't do it because homeless people will start bungee-cording their belongings to the bikes.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113173 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113173 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:12:06 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage There's no reason we shouldn't do this... except, of course, that the government shouldn't be in the loan-me-a-bike business. Build bike lanes, yes. Then stand back and let high gas prices and more people living in the urban core do the rest.

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113178 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113178 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:14:33 -0800 Comment by Greg Bike lanes on SIDEWALKS.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113190 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113190 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:20:10 -0800 Comment by Whitworth Fag Ahh, the Seattle Process! And just to think we will have this program in place just in time for the peace treaty between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire at Camp Kittomear (sp).

I can't wait!!!

]]> Whitworth Fag http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113201 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113201 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:30:22 -0800 Comment by Jeff Bike Loans are the new high-tech portable toilets.

]]> Jeff http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113205 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113205 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:33:03 -0800 Comment by Matt Fuckin' Hickey We tried it about a decade ago in Olympia. It was called the Pink Bike Project, if I remember correctly. It was great for the first two or three months but then homeless dudes started hoarding all the bikes and the whole thing fell apart. It sucked in the end, but was good while it lasted.

]]> Matt Fuckin' Hickey http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113207 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113207 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:34:21 -0800 Comment by Ziggity I'm just worried if we go forward with this that Michelle Malkin might have something to say about it is all. Which is why I'm voting no.

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113208 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113208 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:35:20 -0800 Comment by elswinger Do they still do the white bicycles in Amsterdam (they were doing it in 1967)?

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113219 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113219 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:43:38 -0800 Comment by Cato the Younger Younger Fuck, if it is handled like Metro that is going to be one screwed up program.

]]> Cato the Younger Younger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113225 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113225 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:50:55 -0800 Comment by Gurldoggie Never never never! It can't work! The hills, man! The water! The infrastructure! The exoskeleton! I refuse! J'accuse! When Hell freezes over! When pigs fly! A practical solution to a transportation problem involving bicycles?!?! How dare you!?

]]> Gurldoggie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113228 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113228 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:53:06 -0800 Comment by Gomez What happens when they get stolen or stripped for parts while in the possession of a renter, like when said renter stops somewhere en route and chains the bike to a rack? Most people tend to lock their bikes poorly... like the bike in that picture is, in fact (you always want to use a strong U-lock or heavy chain lock, and chain it through the tires). A cable lock is easy to break, and the tires are fair game when a bike is chained by the frame the way the bike in that pic is.

Is that renter held at fault? I can easily see this being a recurring issue in Seattle.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113233 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113233 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:59:41 -0800 Comment by fARTing Pigs will fly:

http://www.earlapel.net/photos/cincinnati/flying_pigs.jpg

]]> fARTing http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113238 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113238 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:04:48 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle What happens when people start stealing copper from utility lines, Gomez?

Yeah, that's already happening.

You don't see us investing in space-age tubes instead.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113245 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113245 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:20:27 -0800 Comment by Ziggity @13: Is that last line a swipe at the monorail?

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113250 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113250 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:24:01 -0800 Comment by Man in the Street There’s no reason Seattle can’t do this

But we'll have to wait until the mayor ("That's Greg, with a 'G,' as in 'Green'") can claim credit for the idea.

]]> Man in the Street http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113254 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113254 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:26:44 -0800 Comment by dwight moody That's a Trek Lime Lite right there. Three speed self shifting for the casual cruiser. I'd love to see them but a rear rack with a copious basket on that sucker, for extra usefulness.

]]> dwight moody http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113258 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113258 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:32:41 -0800 Comment by Fnarf No, it's gas escaping from Will's head. Looks like letters and words sometimes.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113259 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113259 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:32:44 -0800 Comment by GK
Uh, have you seen some of the people downtown? Those bikes would disappear faster than a [insert southern euphemism here.]

]]> GK http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113272 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113272 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:42:05 -0800 Comment by C M All the bikes will end up at the bottom of hills

]]> C M http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113277 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113277 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:51:05 -0800 Comment by Eric F I'm so hot for that chain guard.

]]> Eric F http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113279 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113279 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:52:06 -0800 Comment by PopTart Won't a lack of helmets be an issue? Aren't we supposed to be wearing helmets to ride bikes in Seattle?

]]> PopTart http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113285 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113285 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:06:03 -0800 Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale I'm an optimist, generally, but -- echoing some other comments -- alls I see in several Seattle neighborhoods is empty bike racks surrounded by piles of tweaker scat.

]]> Lloyd Clydesdale http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113290 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113290 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:14:31 -0800 Comment by Gurldoggie Gomez @11 is right! It's the lack of locks that will keep this from happening!
PopTart @21 has hit the nail on the head! It's the helmets!

The hills @21! The thieves @18! The bureaucracy @9! All of it means that bicycles will never never never work in Seattle. Not free bikes, not cheap bikes, not expensive ones, NONE! The ONLY thing we can do is keep driving our cars.

Those of you who don't see this are fools. Fools, I say.

]]> Gurldoggie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113345 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113345 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:14:51 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle And now for my next amazing trick, I will repeal the bag tax.

Ta da!

(seriously, you guys need to get out more)

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113391 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113391 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:07:37 -0800 Comment by josh bomb @6 yeah, but waking up daily with 8 different pink bikes on yr lawn sure made it easy to get back into town back then

]]> josh bomb http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113452 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113452 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:55:07 -0800 Comment by PopTart @23 Excuse me for asking a FUCKING QUESTION on Slog about something to do with bikes. I thought that bicycle helmets were required in the city of Seattle. Am I wrong? Then fine, tell me so. But don't interpret my question as some sort of condemnation of why this won't work in Seattle because, as strange as it might actually be, I was ASKING A QUESTION not stating a view.

]]> PopTart http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113459 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113459 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:56:49 -0800 Comment by Greg Ignore him, PopTart, he's a filthy fucking tagger.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113471 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113471 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:04:15 -0800 Comment by elenchos HAS this ever been successful anywhere? It failed in Spokane and Olympia, among other places, I know that. Does anybody know the answer?

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113485 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113485 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:12:06 -0800 Comment by Ben in Mpls Madison WI has been doing it for a long time - the catch is to have ugly bikes. In Madison they're cheap road bikes painted red.

They're also trying this in St. Paul for the Republican convention, but I think a credit card swipe is required to check out a bike. That should help keep tabs on them.

]]> Ben in Mpls http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113624 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113624 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:26:06 -0800 Comment by elenchos @29

In Madison, you pay a deposit and they give you a bike and a lock that is yours for 6 months. You have to take care of that one bike. That is nothing like the bike sharing programs where you ride from A to B and then leave the bike and forget about it, and someone else rides it away. Then when you go back from B to A you find a completely different bike.

The key to failure in these programs has been that once you go where you were going, you didn't care what happened next to the bike. You didn't care if someone stole it. Yet if you do have to care what happens to that particular bike, then what is the point? Riders might as well go buy their own cheap bike for $20 and dispense with the whole scheme.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113677 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1113677 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:00:53 -0800 Comment by bubbles How will people make money off these though?
Can't we rent them?

]]> bubbles http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1114129 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1114129 2008 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:35:58 -0800 Comment by Gomez Though I know it's hard for you to do so, Will, don't be a dumbass: power is easily renewable and replaced. A bicycle... not so.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1114304 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/sims_solid_for_obama#c1114304 2008 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:40:44 -0800