Being an economist I know something about how common property works. It doesn't (see: the tragedy of the commons). Projects like the yellow bicycle system and this system in Paris are doomed to failure. The problem is and always will be that each individual acts to maximize their net benefit which means that they seek to get the most out of something while paying as little as possible for it. In the case of common property, there is no or little cost in use and great benefit in certain actions.
Take for example someone who needs to get from one side of a city to another. If they can take a free bicycle to make the trip then the cost is entirely in the effort and time necessary to bike to the destination. If there is no place to return the bicycle at their destination, there is an additional cost of turning in the bike. If there is no punishment for not turning in the bike then why make any effort to do so?
This is one of many reasons common property schemes fail. The GBP avoids the common property problem all together by assigning private property rights (eg: ownership). In doing so, we act to make sure that every bike we repair is taken care of. If you own it and use it then why would you destroy it?
Welcome to the GBP Blog
This is the Blog associated with our main website TheGreenBicycleProject.org
The GBP has merged with Damn Good Bikes LLC. Please visit the new blog for more recent updates.
We are the GBP. Our mission is to keep bikes on the road and thus keep cars off. We call this “Bikecycling”; that’s recycling, but for bikes. The concept is simple. Take a bike that’s no longer wanted, broken, or even bound for a landfill and apply a bit of knowhow and a lot of elbow grease and you get a bike that can last someone for years. These bikecycled bikes are sold at a price that covers only our costs in repairing them so as to provide bicycles at the lowest cost possible. All of our bikes are repaired and tuned by a mechanic so that from the moment you pick them up they are ready to hit the road. Take a look below for our current project bikes and completed rides.
Location:
We are located in the US Storage facility at Capital Circle NE and Mahan Rd. While have moved into our new store, we are in the same complex. To get there follow the road through the complex, around the 90 degree bend and make the first left (at the tree). We'll be the first store front on your right. Sound complex? The best way to find us is to follow the bikes!
Buying our bikes:
Please visit our main website at thegreenbicycleproject.org for information about buying our bikes. You may also email us at Thegreenbicycleproject@gmail.com.
The GBP has merged with Damn Good Bikes LLC. Please visit the new blog for more recent updates.
We are the GBP. Our mission is to keep bikes on the road and thus keep cars off. We call this “Bikecycling”; that’s recycling, but for bikes. The concept is simple. Take a bike that’s no longer wanted, broken, or even bound for a landfill and apply a bit of knowhow and a lot of elbow grease and you get a bike that can last someone for years. These bikecycled bikes are sold at a price that covers only our costs in repairing them so as to provide bicycles at the lowest cost possible. All of our bikes are repaired and tuned by a mechanic so that from the moment you pick them up they are ready to hit the road. Take a look below for our current project bikes and completed rides.
Location:
We are located in the US Storage facility at Capital Circle NE and Mahan Rd. While have moved into our new store, we are in the same complex. To get there follow the road through the complex, around the 90 degree bend and make the first left (at the tree). We'll be the first store front on your right. Sound complex? The best way to find us is to follow the bikes!
Buying our bikes:
Please visit our main website at thegreenbicycleproject.org for information about buying our bikes. You may also email us at Thegreenbicycleproject@gmail.com.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment