I have to admit, when Jim Titus suggested in the comments that we could provide helmets from vending machines near CaBi stations, I thought he was totally spitballing ideas. Turns out, Melbourne is doing it.
Melbourne Bike Share patrons would now have the option to buy $5 helmets from two CBD locations as part of a vending machine trial, or at 7-Eleven stores across the city.
Now, I'm not sure what a $5 helmet looks like or how well it works, but this does seem to be happening. I believe Australia still has a mandatory adult helmet law (as does Sykeville, MD apparantly), so there is more incentive to put on a helmet. But it may mean cyclists put the minimum helmet on to meet the standard (and hence the $5 price tag). They're also recycling them.
People can buy helmets for $5 and keep them, or return them to a 7-Eleven store for recycling and receive $3 cash back.
That's a swell idea. The vending machines will be probably be lightly used but the city fathers can throw a bone to the helmet lobby.
Looks like a win-win to me.
Let bike sharing grow and prosper.
Posted by: Tom | October 13, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Melbourne also has a CaBi style bike system (look at their website)
Posted by: SJE | October 13, 2010 at 09:01 AM
This is a horrible idea that will (predictably) fail.
Posted by: Peter Smith | October 13, 2010 at 01:48 PM
Cue inevitable helmet debate *now*.
Posted by: guez | October 13, 2010 at 04:58 PM
I worked on a bike share project in a major US city. We planned on having the same exact thing, helmets for sale at nearby stores for $6. We planned on buying the same helmets the local PD department uses. Cost to us would be $4, we'd give the $2 profit to the store as an incentive. We had no recycling plans, but thats a good idea.
Shockingly cheap huh? Think about how much a perfectly good helmet costs when you see them prices at $30 in a store.
Posted by: J | October 13, 2010 at 10:34 PM
Anyone knows the vending machine company name, please?
Posted by: Sergio | October 15, 2010 at 10:30 AM