[*BCM*] boston's bike sharing program

[Ben Hunrichs]

I used the one while visiting Montreal in May, and it was pretty cool.  
The bike stands were everywhere, so without fore-thought, you could 
pretty easily jump on a bike, ride for less than 1/2 an hour, then leave 
it at another stand.  They way they had it set up, you didn't need to 
buy a membership, you just swiped a credit card, and only got charged 
for anything if you kept the bike for more than 30 minutes.  According 
to locals, you could serially ride multiple bikes for short hops, still 
at no charge.

It is good for tourist use, but I think it also could be good for short 
pre/post subway trips.  When I don't ride my own bike, I often take the 
T, and end up spending more than half of the commute time walking to and 
from the train.  As far as I'm concerned it would be awesome to have a 
free or nearly free no-hassle bicycle waiting for me at either end.

The bikes themselves were funcitonal, comfortable, but definitely not 
the kind of thing anyone would want to steal.   (besides, they have your 
credit card number).  The thing that worries me the most about this not 
working, is just the brutal, fuck-everyone vandalism impulse.  People 
can be dicks.

ben