Solution for Disney's transit problems?

[MarkTwain]

Now I don't want to start one of those threads... but I wonder how well this could work well for WDW's transit woes.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...lion-to-sponsor-nyc-bike-sharing-program.html

Pretty simple: Swipe your card at the bike rack. Pick your bike. Ride it somewhere. Drop it off at another bike rack.

A lot of the more progressive cities around the world are adapting this system as a transit possibility. Disney could modify it to fit their own resort model, maybe something more like:

1. Swipe Key to the World Card at bike rack.
2. Pick out bike.
3. Ride it somewhere.
4. Drop it off at a resort or theme park's bike rack. First 30 minutes free, every additional 30 minutes $5. Or something. It should be modeled so that using it as transit is free while using it recreationally will cost.

I realize not everyone could participate in this, particularly the elderly or those with the very young, but I could see it at least taking a bit of strain off of the overcrowded monorails and buses. This would probably be particularly popular between DHS and Epcot and their associated hotels, between the Magic Kingdom hotels, or even smaller distances like between the various Coronado Springs or Saratoga Springs buildings. And all they would have to do is install a couple of bike racks, and pave a few new sidewalks/bike paths.

Thoughts? Would anyone else participate in this? I know I myself would never have to hitch a ride from the Boardwalk to Epcot or DHS ever again.

 

[menamechris]

I think it is a fantastic idea - in fact I believe the cast members backstage at the Animal Kingdom have a similar bike system set up to get around backstage. But the lawyers would never permit this, I don't think for guests. You would have to fill out a consent and waiver at probably every pick up and drop off. And as a Floridian - this would be really hard to do for the majority of the year with the heat and humidity. At least not if you don't want to be completely soaked from sweat, tired, and ed by the time you get where you are going. Ha!

 

[rsoxguy]

Anything is possible, and utilizing such a system is strictly up to the individual, but I will offer reasons as to why I do not believe that this would work at WDW.

1. The heat. Many people who visit WDW are not accustomed to the hot, muggy atmosphere. I don't know if they would be willing to ride bikes in 93 degree temperatures with 90% humidity. I realize that people ride bikes at Fort Wilderness, but those tall pines are not available everywhere for shade.

2. The money. Plunking down thousands of dollars just to play Lance Armstrong might not be the typical ideal of a WDW tourist. If someone pays for the bus or the monorail, they are likely to demand use of those vehicles.

3. The mindset. Working all year just to put forth a little more energy on vacation is not typical for most people. They are already walking in the parks all day. I think that the transportation system provides a bit of respite for the average tourist. Convenience, comfort, and amenities establish the standard vacation attitude.

 

[nngrendel]

Ive seen this in Chattanooga TN and believe I was told it doesnt get much use.

 

[DisneyWall-E]

I have to agree with @rsoxguy on this one. Now I do believe that there will be some people who would love this but I would imagine that would be a low percentage of the yearly visitors. Now this does sound like a cheap addition to make to the parks so maybe they will test it one day.

 

[lightguy]

DC has a huge and very successful bike share program like this. BUT, I don't really see this as something that would work for Disney as the volumes of people are so high. They would have to spend probably hundreds of millions of dollars building new bike only roads all over the place as well and facilities to park and maintain tens of thousands of bikes. Great thought though.

 

[bethymouse]

If the POLY and GF were connected by a bridge, and DISNEY maintained the walkway to the MK- I'd do that! But, that's limited to the monorail resorts.

 

[unkadug]

I agree about the lawyers not allowing this. If you remember just a few years ago a child was killed on a bike when we ran into a Disney bus.

 

[rufio]

I think most people are too lazy to ride bikes anywhere when there are buses and monorail available.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

A bike sharing program would be perfect. WDW is perfect for bikes. Everything is flat and the distances are exactly right for a bicycle.

What I wouldn't give to be able to ride a bike from Typhoon Lagoon to the Studios!

 

[olinecoach61]

I don't like the idea as a solution to the transportation issues. I can see recreational use but between the heat and chances of guests being injured, I don't see it.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

The City of Chicago also uses this bike program.

 

[GoofGoof]

They would have to have dedicated bike roads or something. The only thing worse than Florida drivers are NJ drivers in rental cars who don't know where they are going. Yes, I am a bitter guy who drives into NJ every day for work from PA where everyone drives perfectly (at this point I would add one of those winking smile things if I could figure out how).

Back on topic. This could work for certain areas like MK hotels to MK and BW, BC to Epcot or studios. I can't see too many people biking anywhere that would require a highway. I often wondered if they would ever consider renting golf carts at places like the fort wilderness camp ground or even Saratoga Springs but maybe bikes would be cheaper and a better healthy option to go with the healthy food choices.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I don't like the idea as a solution to the transportation issues. I can see recreational use but between the heat and chances of guests being injured, I don't see it.

Americans just don't do bikes as a means of mass transportation. We Europeans and East Asians do.

What one needs are separate bicycle lanes, traffic lights for bikes, parking places. It will be a good addition to WDW's tranposrtation options: clean, fun, healthy (know many obese Chinese, Danish or Dutch people?). It's so much more fun and relaxing to take your family on a twenty minute bicycle trip through a safe Florida forest path than to wait twenty minutes for a crowded, stinky diesel bus.

 

[jlsHouston]

hahaha I just keep thinking of the cyclists on the nice country roads throughout Texas... and a couple of redneck hunter/fishermen that use the same roads. Course I am sure there are not as many redneck hunter/fisher guys driving the roads around the disney complex but just in case, I would advise bike lanes!

 

[lightguy]

Americans just don't do bikes as a means of mass transportation. We Europeans and East Asians do.

What one needs are separate bicycle lanes, traffic lights for bikes, parking places. It will be a good addition to WDW's tranposrtation options: clean, fun, healthy (know many obese Chinese, Danish or Dutch people?). It's so much more fun and relaxing to take your family on a twenty minute bicycle trip through a safe Florida forest path than to wait twenty minutes for a crowded, stinky diesel bus.

Some Americans do- DC's Capital Bikeshare has 165+ stations and 1500+ bikes around the city and is heavily used. And that in a city that has the 2nd busiest subway and 6th busiest bus system in the US (North America?).

Again, it's a great idea, but not a practical one for Disney on any real scale. On a Busy day Disney World has what 30,000 to 55,000 people at EACH of the 4 main gates- and probably another 10,000 to 15,000 at each water park. So that's what, 150,000 to 250,000 people trying to get around on bikes?????? If they have trouble moving all those people around in the massive fleet of high capacity Monorails, boats and buses (that hold 75+ each), how would you do it with bikes? 75 people on bikes take up more space than a bus and are much slower- which means you have a much higher cycle time- which equals less capacity.

 

[shelbysmom]

i think its a novel idea. I would love it at some of the hotels. A long walk back after a long day is tough, but i think bikes would make it easier. of course when lawyers get involved...

 

[Tim_4]

Anything is possible, and utilizing such a system is strictly up to the individual, but I will offer reasons as to why I do not believe that this would work at WDW.

1. The heat. Many people who visit WDW are not accustomed to the hot, muggy atmosphere. I don't know if they would be willing to ride bikes in 93 degree temperatures with 90% humidity. I realize that people ride bikes at Fort Wilderness, but those tall pines are not available everywhere for shade.

2. The money. Plunking down thousands of dollars just to play Lance Armstrong might not be the typical ideal of a WDW tourist. If someone pays for the bus or the monorail, they are likely to demand use of those vehicles.

3. The mindset. Working all year just to put forth a little more energy on vacation is not typical for most people. They are already walking in the parks all day. I think that the transportation system provides a bit of respite for the average tourist. Convenience, comfort, and amenities establish the standard vacation attitude.

4. The children.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

hahaha I just keep thinking of the cyclists on the nice country roads throughout Texas... and a couple of redneck hunter/fishermen that use the same roads. Course I am sure there are not as many redneck hunter/fisher guys driving the roads around the disney complex but just in case, I would advise bike lanes!

Like this! :

Combined bike / jogging / walking paths! No cars in sight, safe for kids, just you relaxing and enjoying the Florida nature. I can totally see this work. Not as a grand solution to end all transportation problems, but as a fun extra. A mode of transport that blurs the line between transportation and play and workout.

Classic, orginal Disney did such a fine job of promoting fun transportation. Boats, monorails, trains, hiking and horseriding paths. A delight to get around!
Then during the Esiner expansion era WDW became suburbanised. No master plan, no fun, just traffic congestion and busses, busses and more boring busses.

 

[GoalieGirl16]

I think the time involved in making that program work would be prohibitive. We had Cast Member bikes backstage during my MGM days. We used at least 16 man hours a day moving bikes around and repairing them. What we had backstage would be a fraction of what would be used for general guest use. I guarantee that there would be bikes abandoned and stashed in the bushes all over property. I will never forget being on hurricane ride out for Floyd and spending 20 hours finding and tying down bikes! Every time we thought we had them we would find more.
While it is a good idea in theory I think it would be a nightmare in practice.