Charge or cycle friendly pub/restaurant list....

[ghouluk]

Hi all,

(not sure if this is the right section, feel free to slap me or to move it if not )

a couple of years ago, i started trying to maintain a network of cycle friendly pubs locally, in essence talking them into providing locks on a deposit basis, somewhere to lock to etc etc. Its fair to say that i had limited success, although i still think the idea of not lugging a lock around all the time is a good one.

As the ebike encourages me to venture further afield, i wondered whether anyone had investigated making or keeping a list of charge friendly locations on a similar basis? or even if there was one already?

cheers

Rob

 

[GaRRy]

CycleCharge | Charge on the move

although still lacking in the number of available locations

 

[ghouluk]

thanks - thats cool

 

[funkylyn]

Thanks for the link GaRRy

Rob...we will welcome your help to sign up potential chargepoints.......we are rather dependent at the moment on members trying to sign up locations in their areas OR sending their details to me and I will register them for you. Please see our site for details of how to join/sign up CP's/or donate.

We are planning a larger publicity drive soon and are already receiving enquiries from libraries/health centres etc so please everyone, if you arent already a member please register and then try to find potential chargepoints, this is, after all, for all of our benefits.

Its a long slow journey but we are getting there and the number of chargepoints keep on increasing, thanks to everyone who has added some so far......but we need more......

Having just paid out for the new membership cards, which are a smaller key ring size credit card type ideal for always having on you with your battery key on, we are in need of more funding and so if anyone would like to make a donation or become a member to use the CP's please go to our site....heres the link again
CycleCharge | Charge on the move
.

Lynda

 

[morphix]

Lynda covered everything, but I'd just like to say.. we're getting a very positive response from smaller businesses and even local governments have expressed interest. I think CycleCharge will grow to become a very large network in time and will become the main way e-bike users can charge their bikes freely, extending the range and providing the reassurance of not getting stranded! Also it has the added advantage of identifying to our members businesses on the directory that are "e-bike friendly", i.e. places like hotels, guesthouses, cafe's, tourist sites etc where you take your e-bike and store it, charge it, so great for planning day trips out and holidays..

We're working slowly but surely to create a massive "joined up" network that covers the entire UK, but obviously this will take years...still, the e-bike industry is relatively small in UK compared to EU, and growing slowly, and so we have plenty of time.. as Lynda said, the more members, donations and/or volunteers we get, the quicker we can grow to everyone's benefit so that the CP network is ready for the e-bike industry when it's grown larger and e-bikes are more mainstream. Remember using CP's also benefits and helps local businesses that struggle in some areas.

After the big PR drive Lynda mentioned, we'll try to get some real financing behind us from charity sector, and government grants etc.. but we have to get a bit more organised first.

There are already some exciting developments though, our link up with CycleStreets for example, takes us into their mobile app platform and makes it easier than ever to find CP's near you, wherever you are.

 

[jackhandy]

Paul - Have you considered doing away with the requirement of membership for ebikers, just retaining it for Chargepoint providers?

I can't envisage a Chargepoint refusing to allow someone to charge their battery because they don't have a Cyclecharge membership card.

Would this create a more "open source" feel ?

 

[morphix]

Paul - Have you considered doing away with the requirement of membership for ebikers, just retaining it for Chargepoint providers?

I can't envisage a Chargepoint refusing to allow someone to charge their battery because they don't have a Cyclecharge membership card.

Would this create a more "open source" feel ?

The problem with the "anyone can charge" approach (which we did consider) is that in order to get Charge Point businesses on board, we had to assure them that a) there was no health and safety or insurance risk liability on them b) that the charge point network would be managed properly as it grows, so as not to burden businesses.. the only way we could do that was to adopt a membership model approach, where each member is identifiable to CP's and to CycleCharge... central to that is the card registration whereby members agree to the "code of conduct" when using CP's which basically is a set of simple rules designed to protect both CP's businesses and members equipment.

The liability side is transferred to members, i.e. by becoming a member you accept the liability that your equipment could get damaged, stolen etc on a businesses premises if left unattended...so this provides businesses with assurance when they see a visiting registered member with a card, that the member is aware of the liability aspect etc.

However, we have left it open so that if CP's wish to, they can accept non-registered e-bike users, either as a one-off or all the time. We place no restrictions or requirements on CP's, and only offer them guidelines on charging. Ultimately it's up to them who they allow to charge, for how long, and when etc.

Having a registered membership approach enables us to monitor usage patterns more easily, plan for the future, and also create a community where members feel part of a community and have a say in how the project develops and is run.