The privately run ones in China are heavily subsidized and still end up with a ton of bikes blocking sidewalks, dumped in crap locations, etc. I don't know about the DC ones but apparently they're quite popular. That being said... STL is a long way from China and DC.
So no racks anywhere? I would think you'd need 10 or more bikes at various metrolink stations, like the central west end.
Not sure I can picture how a usable number of bikes would be there without a rack while at the same time not being in the way of pedestrians.
The absence of racks makes me question the reliability. Like if my wife and I bike from CWE metrolink to dogtown for drinks, I wouldn't be confident in any bike availability for the return trip.
Not sure I can picture how a usable number of bikes would be there without a rack while at the same time not being in the way of pedestrians.
The absence of racks makes me question the reliability. Like if my wife and I bike from CWE metrolink to dogtown for drinks, I wouldn't be confident in any bike availability for the return trip.
I guess you could just keep your bike rented the entire time. But that isn't the ideal situation.
I would rather see some kind of combo with racks also, but at this point if we don't have to give much money to it I guess I can't be too choosy. I am open to seeing how a reckless setup works.
From Scott Ogilvie on Twitter:
Bill to authorize a permit process for dockless bike share operators to enter St. Louis market passes committee. Fingers crossed for bike share bikes on the ground in 2018.
I used it in Seattle. It was great. The app just finds you the nearest available bike.
So limebike is pretty much confirmed.
They are hiring here-
https://jobs.lever.co/limebike/3c1f7c64 ... 556302360b
Let's see how this goes. While I would have preferred at least some sort of dock or hybrid system, beggars can't be choosers. They also have stated that they want to enter the county and Madison
They are hiring here-
https://jobs.lever.co/limebike/3c1f7c64 ... 556302360b
Let's see how this goes. While I would have preferred at least some sort of dock or hybrid system, beggars can't be choosers. They also have stated that they want to enter the county and Madison
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Vote here, but looks like they are already coming.stl07 wrote: ↑Mar 04, 2018So limebike is pretty much confirmed.
They are hiring here-
https://jobs.lever.co/limebike/3c1f7c64 ... 556302360b
Let's see how this goes. While I would have preferred at least some sort of dock or hybrid system, beggars can't be choosers. They also have stated that they want to enter the county and Madison
http://www.limebike.com
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It makes sense, as long as people aren't jerks about it.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way ... ckless-bik
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^ and given that St. Louis is swarming with jerks i don't see it working out here either. hope i'm wrong.
One of the less successful campaigns Explore St. Louis has run, but you never know who'll respond to a thing:urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Mar 05, 2018^ and given that St. Louis is swarming with jerks i don't see it working out here either. hope i'm wrong.
-RBB
i mean, if we're being honest...
Doesn't seem like this company is actively looking to expand but I think this could be a good addition to the bike share:
https://www.bird.co/
It's a motorized scooter company that currently operates in Santa Monica. Max speed of 15 mph. Could be good for tourists in the downtown area but could also work in Soulard, CWE, and college campuses.
Thoughts? I've never used it as it wasn't there a few years ago the last time I was in SM.
https://www.bird.co/
It's a motorized scooter company that currently operates in Santa Monica. Max speed of 15 mph. Could be good for tourists in the downtown area but could also work in Soulard, CWE, and college campuses.
Thoughts? I've never used it as it wasn't there a few years ago the last time I was in SM.
This is why dockless makes no sense.
You can't even really penalize folks for their return location, because they can always argue they didn't leave it in a terrible location. You can leave it in the middle of a sidewalk, and a passer-by will move it into the bushes and out of the way.
With a docked system, it's pretty black and white whether you're following the rules, returning to a dock or not.
You can't even really penalize folks for their return location, because they can always argue they didn't leave it in a terrible location. You can leave it in the middle of a sidewalk, and a passer-by will move it into the bushes and out of the way.
With a docked system, it's pretty black and white whether you're following the rules, returning to a dock or not.
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Can anyone who has used a dockless system weigh in on this? I frequently use a docked bikeshare system in Indianapolis. They say it's been very successful though the stations are only downtown. I have a station outside my apartment that I frequently use for running to the grocery store. I also often use it with friends when 4-5 of us are going out to dinner, between bars, etc. It seems like a dockless system would remove the ability to reliably commute to work (not knowing how far away a bike is going to be at a given time) or travel socially (having to split a group up to all find bikes in different directions). Do the bikes usually congregate in the same areas where or does it make it harder to rely on as a mode of transportation? I do see how dockless would make it more equal (ie. doesn't just favor people living in expensive apartment buildings or at large offices), but it feels very uber vs public transportation.
Firstly, the companies are capable of holding riders accountable for poor placement. If you constantly park a bike poorly, your account will be deactivated. The second a bike moves without being unlocked, they're notified, then the police are notified.deformative wrote: ↑Mar 08, 2018Can anyone who has used a dockless system weigh in on this? I frequently use a docked bikeshare system in Indianapolis. They say it's been very successful though the stations are only downtown. I have a station outside my apartment that I frequently use for running to the grocery store. I also often use it with friends when 4-5 of us are going out to dinner, between bars, etc. It seems like a dockless system would remove the ability to reliably commute to work (not knowing how far away a bike is going to be at a given time) or travel socially (having to split a group up to all find bikes in different directions). Do the bikes usually congregate in the same areas where or does it make it harder to rely on as a mode of transportation? I do see how dockless would make it more equal (ie. doesn't just favor people living in expensive apartment buildings or at large offices), but it feels very uber vs public transportation.
Dockless can be very successful under the right system. From what I know, St. Louis's permit process is strong and well researched (NOTHING like Dallas). Permit can be found here: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d ... 3-2-18.pdf
Expect to see locations where bikes will be placed daily. Most of these companies will have full teams of people constantly relocating and adjusting bikes. While I haven't confirmed this, I expect MetroLink stations will have a minimum number of bikes at the start of everyday. The permit process also details how the city will use the fee ($10 per bike - each year, could be $25,000+ annually PER COMPANY) to "infrastructure changes: converting parking spaces to dedicated bike share parking, moving street furniture, and putting up signage "
Optimistically: The companies do great work. Create and share data on cycling in St. Louis, which leads to greater and more efficient investment in bike infrastructure.
Pessimistically: The bikes get destroyed and the companies leave. No tax money wasted.
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Yep - I've used the dock-less bike-share a few times. The bike-share company holds users accountable by not allowing them to release the bike up until they are in a "lock zone" - or at least the one I used did this. You could lock it (not release it) and go shopping and then hop back out and ride it to a lock zone (on your app). If you leave a bike unlocked in a non-lock zone, you are liable for that bike, because they already have your card (or you buy insurance *upcharge). You just get charged for the cost of the bike if anything happens. You have a group of workers that, as needed, goes out and redistributes bikes before the weekend... if your tire goes low they tell you to make note so they can flag that bike for the next user.
It's good for the businesses because those bikes pay for themselves really fast and if someone messes up and it gets stolen, the user pays for it. They have trackers on all of the bikes too, so if someone actually steals it, they just track the bike to who has it... and even if they remove the tracker-system fast enough, these are not the best bikes. Maybe $50 cruisers - theres no money in that for anyone.
It's good for the businesses because those bikes pay for themselves really fast and if someone messes up and it gets stolen, the user pays for it. They have trackers on all of the bikes too, so if someone actually steals it, they just track the bike to who has it... and even if they remove the tracker-system fast enough, these are not the best bikes. Maybe $50 cruisers - theres no money in that for anyone.
Stltoday - -Bike-share may start soon in St. Louis, Alton
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/al ... d07ec.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/al ... d07ec.html
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That doesn't stop randos from walking by and tossing bikes into the creek or whatever.pattimagee wrote: ↑Mar 08, 2018Yep - I've used the dock-less bike-share a few times. The bike-share company holds users accountable by not allowing them to release the bike up until they are in a "lock zone" - or at least the one I used did this.
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Announcement coming in Kiener Plaza on the 16th. LimeBike is official.
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I am meeting with Lime Bike tomorrow about running their operations here 
nice!Chalupas54 wrote: ↑Apr 11, 2018Announcement coming in Kiener Plaza on the 16th. LimeBike is official.
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They are launching Monday for sure. Will be physically based in dogtown area. They like me. I like them. Should know more in the next 36 hours. I got a few other things happening this week and early next week on the jobs front so no clue what I’ll end up doing.