When North Americans travel abroad, often they are struck by the popularity of bicycles. Whether in China or the Netherlands, more people use cycling as a mode of transport in these countries. It is a timely consideration as the world grapples with the realities of mounting fuel prices and excessive emissions. Not to mention the physical benefit of getting out of the car.

Vancouver is considering a public bicycle program. Taking a page from European innovations, the city is looking at several possibilities.

Photo credit: austinevan@Flickr.com (http://www.flickr.com/photos/austinevan/1849218464/)

Paris offers a public bike rental system known as Vélib. Initiated in August 2007, millions of users are hopping onto bicycles. After initial success in central Paris, more areas are opting into the system. A nominal fee of 29 euros ($45) buys year-long access to a fleet of bikes. Short-term subscriptions are also available, including 1-day and 7-day options.

With Vélib, bicycles are stored at stations that are available 24 hours every day. An electronic terminal tracks users and available bikes. While the first half-hour is free, every additional 30-minute block is charged along a set fare structure. The idea is to ride from A to B and deposit the bike at a station. When ready to return, another bicycle is claimed. Stations are about 300 metres apart.

The bicycles themselves are sturdy and utilitarian, with integrated lights, adjustable seats, and shopping baskets. Each bicycle is maintained daily. Safety tips are posted, including road rules and other suggestions.

Similar programs operate in Germany. For example, Call a Bike offers internet registration and easy access to bikes - provided you have a phone handy. CallBike locks feature a phone number for retrieving opening codes. Bicycles can be returned with a flex system - just lock the bike to a fixed object at a major intersection and call in the location. Some cities, like Stuttgart, have stations for pick-up and return.

There are modified versions of bike sharing programs in many places around the world. In Canada, Montreal is the first city to develop a public bike-sharing program (PBS). It features a website with real-time bicycle availability and locations. Modular storage, solar power, and wireless networking allow the system to have little environmental impact.

Many features must be considered to create a modern and efficient system. If cycling is to be encouraged on a huge scale, with thousands of casual riders accessing bikes at will, there are other aspects to keep in mind. Currently, Vancouver has cycle routes used by both cars and bicycle. These would need modifications to support more bike riders. For example, some cycling-friendly cities have cycle lanes running down the middle of the road on major routes. Other places have bicycle lanes next to the curb, with parking lanes between bicycles and the car lanes.

And what about wearing a helmet? British Columbia currently has a law dictating that all cyclists must wear approved bicycle helmets. But if bicycles can be used anytime, on the spur of the moment, a helmet requirement may not be practical. Since a suitable helmet reduces the severity of any head injury, creative solutions will be needed.

Clearly, there are plenty of things to consider. But it is timely to encourage transportation alternatives like cycling. With supportive infrastructure, Vancouver could be a shining example of public bicycle sharing in North America.