Pronto Cycle Share in Seattle

[PotomacCyclist]

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It’s easier to remove a bike from the Pronto stations than from a CaBi station. Once the barcode on your key is read, the locking mechanism releases. You don’t have to tug on the bike to get it out. It’s already completely free.

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The bottom opening on the kiosk is where bike keys are distributed to new members.

[PotomacCyclist]

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This road leads from the waterfront to downtown Seattle. Each block had a very steep stretch, then a flat section at the intersection with the cross street. Then another steep stretch and a flat intersection. Over and over and over again.

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Another view of how steep some of the streets are in central Seattle.

[DCLiz]

Although I’m VERY glad we don’t have a helmet law, I think it would be nice if we could get the helmet dispensers eventually. I personally prefer to ride with a helmet, and sometimes I choose not to take CaBi when I otherwise would have, because I don’t have a helmet with me.

[PotomacCyclist]

I used to wear a helmet on nearly all my CaBi trips. But now that the data shows that there haven’t been any serious head injuries over 10 million individual bike trips on the CaBi system, I’m not nearly as vigilant about it. If I’m planning to do a faster ride on CaBi, I would still wear a helmet. But for RackSpotter and local errand trips where I’m going to be riding very slowly, I don’t worry as much about the helmet. The slower speeds and the sturdier bikes make it much easier to avoid issues on the streets.

I know there is still a risk of injury but that’s the case with any mode of travel, including driving, riding a bus/MetroRail or walking. (I’ve had more close encounters while walking in crosswalks than I have while riding CaBi.)

On the other hand, I will always wear a helmet for training rides or faster travel on the triathlon or mountain bikes.

[DCLiz]

I agree, and I’m working on getting more comfortable riding without a helmet, but I think it’s nice to have the option. Some of us are clumsier/tippier/more accident-prone/more likely to run into a low-hanging tree branch than others!

[Author]

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