Last updated: December 2010

The cities of Melbourne and Brisbane were the first in Australia to introduce bicycle hire schemes in mid-2010, despite advice that they would fail if customers are forced by law to wear helmets.

This page chronicles the introduction of bike hire schemes since 2007 in different cities around the world where authorities have acted to counter high fuel prices, traffic congestion, road casualties and carbon pollution while at the same time promoting healthy exercise among citizens.

Bike hire schemes in the two Australian cities have been a flop since their introduction, with mandatory helmet laws the clear reason.

Continue reading at cycle-helmets.com