[icebraining]

Bikes can be public too. I've been recently to Budapest, and their public bike networks that was about to open seems excellent. Cheap, with stations everywhere around the city and renting bikes with just a cellphone.

If you live in a small place, and you just bike around the city, I'm not sure it's worth buying your own.

[collyw]

We have a public bike network here in Barcelona (I think it was one of the first).

Sure public bikes will do, but for me its kind of like the difference between my car and a bus. You have to wait for stations to become free a lot (usually commuting from my house to my work involved getting up half an hour before the crowds took the bikes). The bikes often have slight problems (loose breaks, squeaking, won't go into gear). Most people don't seem too bothered, but as somewhat of a bike enthusiast, I find it frustrating to know that its like just a spanner turn or two (end the bolts are usually non standard to prevent theft).

Its a great idea, but not without problems.