This is why we can't have nice things

Free bicycles trashed in Paris
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7881079.stm

Has any free bicycle scheme ever avoided this issue? The one in Lyon is apparently less troubled - I've used it and it really is marvellous. Enter your credit card details into the machine so they can take a deposit, and you get a contactless card printed there and then to let you unlock a bike. First hour is free, bike stands located all over the city. Bikes are super un-trendy, presumably to deter theft - very heavy, brakes and gears aren't great, big chunky plasticated frames.

There are plans to introduce it into London which would be grebt but I wonder about safety concerns - no-one in Paris wears a helmet.

they introduced this 3-4 times during high school in my town (princeton, nj). lasted about a week each time. sorry to admit it but i personally took one of the bikes and left it in my garage for a while, not really intending to steal it, but never having the energy to take it to one of the drop-off points. probably means itd be better in a city than the burbs...

Ledge, that's inaccurate propaganda of the highest order - for a more objective view read this article instead.