{"id":204809,"date":"2026-03-03T13:46:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=204809"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:18:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:18:53","slug":"shared-bikes-why-i-ignored-them-for-years-and-now-love-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2026\/03\/03\/shared-bikes-why-i-ignored-them-for-years-and-now-love-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Shared Bikes: Why I Ignored Them for Years and Now Love Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite bike-sharing being available in my city for years, I only started using it last year. After my first ride, I was hooked. Why did it take me so long, especially as someone who has cycled almost my entire life? Let me explain so you can avoid making the same mistake.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The strange mental block around shared bikes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many cities have bike-sharing programs, yet people often don\u2019t see them as a viable option. The key issue is typically the lack of cycling infrastructure.<\/a> People don\u2019t feel safe on the road next to cars, especially as beginners. For me, that wasn\u2019t an issue; I ride my own bike in the city regularly. I think it was a mix of scepticism and habit.<\/p>\n

I first tried shared bikes years ago while visiting Wroc\u0142aw. They were fun, convenient, and added a unique element to our trip. But when I returned to Prague, I didn\u2019t even consider using them. You\u2019d think being a cyclist would make me more open to the idea, but it actually had the opposite effect. As someone who owns a bike, I assumed shared bikes would be heavy, slow, and uncomfortable. Why pay for a subpar experience when I could ride my own bike for free?<\/p>\n

What changed my mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n

My first experience with shared bikes in Prague was purely practical: I rented one so my mom could join me for a casual ride during her visit. A year later, on a sunny summer day, I decided to try it myself. I used a Rekola<\/a> bike to get to the train station instead of taking the tram. The ride took the same amount of time, but I arrived feeling energised, with the added bonus of sunshine, fresh air, and stretched legs before hours of sitting. That\u2019s when I realised how much I\u2019d been missing out.<\/p>\n

Since then, I\u2019ve used shared bikes for trips to the bouldering gym, the dentist, and even some work meetings. Almost every time, I\u2019ve arrived feeling happier and more refreshed than I would have after sitting in a crowded tram or taxi. After about 10 rides, I was fully converted. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n