Thoughts on urban bike hire schemes?

I used to use them when I lived in London and I liked them.
>Comfortable riding position
>Durable
>Affordable
>Don't have to worry about maintenance
>Don't have to worry about the bike being stolen - once you've docked it, it's no longer your problem
Having your own bike is probably cheaper in the long run, but you have to invest in good locks, and you have to worry about maintenance. Hire bikes are probably more convenient to be honest.