CCC Mods Rent-a-Bike To Allow Free Rides

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CCC Mods Rent-a-Bike To Allow Free Rides

Posted by timothy on Monday December 20, 2004 @07:35PM from the mischief-not-malice dept.

Autoversicherung writes "Germany has an activated by phone bike rental system across all major cities. At 6 cent a minute quite pricey, germanys famous Chaos Computer Club thought a free ride every now and then couldnt hurt. Optimizing the original system in the process, modifying the blink code to be easier found and changing the logo. About 10% of Berlins bikes are patched already. A detailed description of how they did it, and how the system works."

17 of 384 comments (clear)

War Biking? by B4RSK · 2004-12-20 19:38 · Score: 4, Funny

Heh. War biking. Cool!

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Some people are like slinkies--basically useless but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
next they should hack it so I don't have to peddle by hashish · 2004-12-20 19:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Darn things require so much energy to move.
Would this fly in any other countries? by DeeRuss · 2004-12-20 19:43 · Score: 0, Funny

I find it hard to believe that people don't just pick up the bike and throw it in the back of a truck and salvage it for parts. Does anyone think this would fly in North America?
1. Re:Would this fly in any other countries? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-20 19:45 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Not a chance, we aint got flying cars yet so what makes you think bikes are any more likely?
Re:next they should hack it so I don't have to ped by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-20 19:59 · Score: 1, Funny

That's the whole idea, fatty.
Re:All very fun and all... by Krach42 · 2004-12-20 20:05 · Score: 2, Funny

But isn't mucking around with other people's property, without their permission, called "vandalism" ?

Not in Germany, it's called "Vandalismus".

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I am unamerican, and proud of it!
Re:What Happens When... by Vo0k · 2004-12-20 20:27 · Score: 2, Funny

you can also get a bike to just get across town for 60 cents...

Uh, I've been to Berlin. Getting across that "town" at 6c/minute on a bike would cost you good 20-30 euro if you can ride really fast.

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Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"
Re:I'm impressed. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-20 20:29 · Score: 2, Funny

Dude. Locking your bike up in America using anything less that an excellent weld insures you're walking home, perhaps with parts of your bike, if you're lucky.
easier way by austad · 2004-12-20 21:05 · Score: 5, Funny

Doesn't the lock bar just go through the spokes?

They didn't even think of just cutting all of the spokes out of way. Dummies. :)

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pedal by upside · 2004-12-20 21:52 · Score: 4, Funny

This was a message from FHNESTS (Foreigners Helping Native English Speakers To Spell).

Nanana SNANA & GNANA - beat you to it!

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I'm sorry if I haven't offended anyone
1. Re:pedal by nsayer · 2004-12-21 00:40 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Technically, he did spell it right. It was just the wrong word.
2. Re:pedal by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-21 01:47 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Might be. The thing that keeps me awake at night is wondering if "anal retentive" requires hyphenization.
Re:I must be backwards by xs650 · 2004-12-20 22:10 · Score: 3, Funny

I wish this would work in Los Angeles. It could really be useful. It wouldn't work though... too many "hackers" with wire cutters. (alot like the "hackers" above, but with less technical school clases).
There are saws especially designed for hacking.
Re:I'm impressed. by notthe9 · 2004-12-20 22:32 · Score: 2, Funny

As a student at A&M, I've noticed that a lot of people still do that, just without the fixing ot painting yellow :).
Re:Free to use bikes in Helsinki by geminidomino · 2004-12-20 23:58 · Score: 4, Funny

What, you mean they don't just give the unemployed free handouts? You actually train them to have jobs?

Those wacky Europeans...
Re:I'm impressed. by Skye16 · 2004-12-21 02:11 · Score: 2, Funny

Bastard ducks!
I started a similar program at Georgia Tech by dangermouse · 2004-12-21 02:44 · Score: 2, Funny

I left a Trek locked to a bike rack for anyone who wanted to ride it, and later left a Fisher in the hallway of the house I was renting for anyone who wanted to ride it.
The program was a huge success.