Author Topic: Bike Sharing  (Read 1832 times)

Phiz

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Bike Sharing
« on: February 28, 2018, 10:23:16 AM »
I haven't seen anyone or MMM himself talk about the bike sharing business here, so I just want to share my one thing.

In Singapore, Mobike, one of the bike sharing companies, offers free rides on all bikes for up to 2 hours at a time...for just about 4 US dollars per 6 months.

Sure, the bikes aren't as good as one you might find at a proper bike shop, and I suppose some may feel sickened thinking about who has been sitting on the seat prior, plus you get the odd broken bike after some idiot vandalised the seat or something. But listen: I'm basically paying 8 a year to have the privilege of riding multiple bikes, meaning I do not even have to buy a bicycle of my own anymore.

I'd say that's a good deal, but maybe some of you can pour some cold water on this.

Kmp2

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2018, 10:53:49 AM »
Bike sharing is awesome, the biggest pro for me would be not worrying about your bike being stolen! Not worrying about how long your in a store, if you should have used two locks, can you get a seat by a window to see it sigh... I worry about this a lot apparently.

The biggest con, is that when you are done whatever errand you rode your bike to, the bike isn't there to ride home... and there isn't one nearby.

We are just starting to consider a shared bike system in my city, I can't wait to see what it looks like. I'll use it as a complement to my own bike, in that it will be easier to take transit and then use the bike share instead of either biking all the way on my own, or getting my bike on/off the bus/train.

Slee_stack

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2018, 10:55:01 AM »
There's a bike share in my city.

I've contemplated using it, but have not yet.

The bikes seem perfectly fine and functional.

There is a monthly or annual fee.  There is no 'free' time though.

If I were to do more one way trips, I might pay to use it.

However, I already have owned a bike for years and usually want to take round trips.  There just isn't much of an incentive for me to use a Share bike personally.

theSlowTurtle

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2018, 11:06:49 AM »
Work in D.C. and when they moved my office to Southwest I started taking Capital Bikeshare from Union station to my office. $80 a year or something (work pays for it) and all rides under 30 mins requires no additional fee. For the most part it is great! There are docking stations a block from my office and one at Union station. Last week I had to go to a meeting across the mall during the middle of the day and took a bike. When I came back all the docks were taken within a 6 block radius so I had to ride around for a while searching for a dock - I was sweating it as I approached the 27 min mark, but then one spot opened up :)

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk


Thegoblinchief

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2018, 07:21:47 AM »
A friend of mine commutes into DC from NoVa and uses the bikeshare extensively to get between the station and his work. I think he uses his personal bike to get to his departure station.

They’ve been building one out here for the past couple of years, I don’t see much use of it and don’t personally have a use case for it.

Must Stache

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2018, 08:08:25 AM »
On the topic of bike sharing, I randomly came across this article and had to share it only because the photos are incredible!

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/bike-share-oversupply-in-china-huge-piles-of-abandoned-and-broken-bicycles/556268/?utm_source=twb


Freedomin5

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2018, 09:22:15 AM »
Yup, over here it’s not just Mobike. There’s also Ofo and the E-bike sharing (the green bikes). Then there are also the smaller bike shares (the white ones, the blue ones, the blue/yellow ones, the green/blue ones). It makes for a lot of bikes littering the sidewalks. And bikes are constantly damaged. We don’t treat the bikes very well because it’s not our own personal bike. So people leave it in the middle of the road, or just push it over if it’s in our way. Or throw it in a bush (yup, I’ve actually seen that on my way to work). Or steal the wheel off of it. Or break the handle.

The bikes tend to be heavier and poorer quality but decent for short trips. It’s a good idea in theory. And I use Ofo ($.20 for unlimited bike rides for a month). They don’t have designated bike parking so you just put the bike wherever you want once you’re done riding. They use GPS on your phone to determine how far you rode.  I just don’t know how they make any money. And the waste from damaged bikes makes me cringe a bit.

Landslave

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2018, 02:11:30 AM »
Chicago has a system which has become heavily used. Chicago is a perfect bike system city. Cool weather in summer. Built on only 180° of the wheel due to the lake, and flat. I don't know if they are used from October to May during winter. I don't go to Chicago until it warms up. But it (and San Fran & Boston) is among America's best summer cities. $7.50 for a day or $75.00 per year. There are docking stations in many places. Biggest problem is carrying a helmet literally everywhere one goes.

Just Joe

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2018, 11:46:37 AM »
On the topic of bike sharing, I randomly came across this article and had to share it only because the photos are incredible!

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/bike-share-oversupply-in-china-huge-piles-of-abandoned-and-broken-bicycles/556268/?utm_source=twb

Those pictures were incredible. And sad. I shared them with everyone.

All I could think of was the waste. They could have been sent to Africa, used in other parts of China or other parts of Asia. 

meghan88

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2018, 12:27:18 PM »
On the topic of bike sharing, I randomly came across this article and had to share it only because the photos are incredible!

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/bike-share-oversupply-in-china-huge-piles-of-abandoned-and-broken-bicycles/556268/?utm_source=twb

Those pictures were incredible. And sad. I shared them with everyone.

All I could think of was the waste. They could have been sent to Africa, used in other parts of China or other parts of Asia.

A true "Tragedy of the Commons".  Just heartbreaking, and so avoidable if people were taught to care an ounce about the greater good.

Freedomin5

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2018, 07:14:21 AM »
No, they couldn’t be sent to Africa. Too expensive. Or to other parts of China. Transporting them probably costs more than just making a new one and shipping it from the factory. They really aren’t that good quality, even if they do look pretty nice. If you’ve ever ridden one you would know.

And there is a ton of propaganda here about caring for the greater good. So it’s not about teaching people. The reality is much more complex.

Plina

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Re: Bike Sharing
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2018, 11:14:36 AM »
We have one in Malmö in Sweden. I used it a lot last year when I lived close to a dockning station. I took the bike every day to work. After I moved the dockning station are not as close so I don’t use it as often. It is really good for one way trips. The yearly fee was about 20-30 usd. Can’t remember the exact amount. I think you have to have a specific place to dock the bike or leave it at to minimise the abuse. If you don’t leave the bike within the allowed time you get a fine and if you don’t leave it a all your credit card will be charges for the bike.