Over the year however a different picture and set of priorities gradually began to take shape. As a result of a months-long process of research, hands-on experience, field visits, conversations and exchanges with cities, various concerned public agencies and key players in the city cycle projects themselves, we came to understand, that something more than a print report was required. In part this is because of the very fast breaking nature of the field, in which it is safe to say that eighteen months is once again a generation. More than that, we began to understand what is needed in order to respond to the needs of local agencies as they move up their learning curves on these matters. The multi-part interactive project package that appears just below is the result of that year-long learning process.

Subscription program summary

The full subscription package covers all of the following for the full year of 2008:

1. Report: World City Bike Implementation Strategies
2. Updates: Regular updates of report over 2008/9.
3. Hotline: Up to eight hours of hotline support or direct consultation.
4. Debriefs/News: Private communications of exception information.
5. World City Bike Forum: Access to this invitational resource
6. Working Papers Access to this resource
7. Benchmarking: Tteam audits of your plans and on-going projects.
8. Accelerated Learning: Invitations to participate in expert workshops.

Each of these components of the service package is introduced below:

1. Report organization and presentation

The full subscription package opens with immediate delivery of the latest edition of the print report: a key analytic document based on direct experience with and deep knowledge of the city bike field and its broader strategic planning context, as practiced at the leading edge in cities around the world. This carefully researched report (an on-going project, see below for updating services) is prepared to inform considering cities, public authorities and agencies as to how best to go about scouting, planning and eventually implementing and fine-tuning a city bike (or public bicycle) system of their own. It opens with an in-depth overview of the broader strategic process that the city of Paris has engaged as a leading example, and from there moves on to provide in-depth background on and analysis of the history and fast-breaking process of city bike developments worldwide (of which there are many with almost as many variations).

Against this firm background the report then goes on to consider how such a transformative project can be made to fit into the larger new mobility and sustainability framework of your city (see the New Mobility Agenda at http://www.invent.newmobility.org). Closing annexes identify the principal suppliers and eventual implementation partners, offering updates and contact details on each, while listing a number of individual consultants and groups with strong credentials whom you may wish to consult.

Subscription provides a solid toolkit of background, strategic counsel and support services for mayors, city leaders and agencies, suppliers and consultants interested in looking more closely into these innovative systems for their cities. It has been prepared as a cost-effective first step in a broader phased process of laying the base for a strong city bike project in your city.

* Click here for report introduction and background > > > .

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2. Report updating

This report treats a highly dynamic on-going movement, in part because the newness and vitality of these projects means that additional information is coming in and being analyzed regularly over this first full year of operations. At the same time we are in regular contact with city bike projects, suppliers and concerned public agencies around the world, all of which further deepens our information base and eventually the report itself.

Thus, additional information and analytic materials are regularly processed and incorporated into the updated editions of the report, and full updates will be made available at least twice during the year following your subscription.

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3. Hotline - Support/Advisory Services

Once you have the latest edition of the report in your hands you may well have questions, wish to talk over a project or idea, or simply like to have some feedback or discuss on something you are working with. With this in view the project, subscribers have free access to up to eight hours of hotline and direct consultancy support as part of their subscription. These consultations can be organized via email, telephone, videoconferencing, or personal visits. Subscribing cities and agencies receive a favored rate for additional time and support as required to advance your City Bike project or program over 2008/9.

* Click here to get in touch > > .

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4. News, Heads-up, Ideas, Leads

Subscribers will over 2008 receive regular private communications reporting exception information from the field: heads-ups on new or evolving projects, opportunities, possible problems, events and techniques; and suggestions. (The process of these communications can be sorted out in the firs stages of the project with the incoming subscriber.

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5. World City Bike Forum

This moderated specialized private forum offers to invited participants a free, public, flexible discussion space discussion space and shared library - and is given over specifically to exchanges of information, sources and ideas for people and groups interested in city or public bikes. Coverage and participation is world wide. It is intended to be a useful supplement to the public information you will find at the World City Bike Implementation Strategies site.

This forum is available on invitation only, and will be opened up to incoming subscribers at the time they join the project.

* Click here to go to the Forum> > > .

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6. Occasional Working Papers

The Forum and on-going collaborative work of the task force behind this project - both as individual professionals active in this area and when working together as a team or task force under this collaborative program -- gives us a chance to explore and examine a certain number of key issues together in open conference. For the latest listing of on-going discussions and working papers in progress, we refer you to the Forum itself.

(To give you an example of how this works: click here to see our first internal report, looking at the thorny issues of required wearing of helmets for city bike projects in certain places. as you will see when it comes to the very special dynamics and uses city bikes, this is a very important issue indeed.)

* Click here to go to Working Paper # 1> > > .

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7. Benchmarking your plan or project

There are at least four critical periods in the process of developing your plans and laying the base of support for a new project in which informed and discrete expert council can be helpful, both to keep your project on focus and to ensure that your preparatory work is going to take full benefit of hard-acquired experience in actual projects. The WCB benchmarking audits can be useful to you at this times.

Each benchmark review of course requires careful planning and collaboration between the subscriber and the designated team members. The actual review itself can be carried out either at a distance using a combination of phones, videoconferencing, e-mail, etc. or alternatively it may be preferred that the team members actually come and stay with you on site. In the latter case adequate provision needs to be made for all associated costs, but this can be worked out on a case-by-case basis. The time required for the participating task for members is billed at a special heavily discounted rate for subscribers.

* Click here for more on Benchmarking > > > .

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8. Accelerated Learning Sessions

Over 2008/9 the project team and associates are organizing at least two Accelerate Learning workshops: tightly focused invitational events bringing together leading experts and groups with hands-on experience in city bike implementations, together with invited representatives of city government, local leaders, and other concerned groups who are in a position to make these policies and measures happen in their cities and/or to support them so that they happen in a way that will benefit the entire community.

If your city, agency or group might be interested in sponsoring such a workshop you are invited to get in touch.

* Click here for more on Accelerated Learning > > > .

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