You’re wrong about the bikes. Inexpensive rental bicycles are a great solution to a myriad of problems. And for every bike parked in a wheelchair ramp there is 10 cars blocking handicap parking.
They’re great when they’re run by the city and there’s designated spots to park/charge them. Our city does have one such program, but that doesn’t stop the bazingabrains from littering the sidewalks with their versions. There’s also the issue that they externalize all the losses by “renting” the bikes to 3rd parties who have to go around at night charging the things and eat the losses when they get broken/stolen.
I disagree, my city has the dedicated drop off zones and guess what, they’re ALL on the sidewalks. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if pedestrians were more than an afterthought (compared to cars). Ideally, the rental bikes should be allowed to park wherever, including (especially?) in car parking spaces.
Not sure why you take issue with a company’s profits being centered around maintaining the bikes. “Externalizing the losses” is not a meaningful expression - both companies are profiting from the relationship.
They’re right about the bikes. It’s mainly tourists that make use of them, and - unlike with in-person rentals - the people renting are given no course on road safety or how to signal. So you get a bunch of drunk people with no knowledge or respect of trafic barreling thru bikelanes way too fast, only to then ditch their bikes on the aforementioned bikelane, because they do not own the bike and they give no fucks about the place they’re at and there is no system of accountability. I see this all the time, it sucks and I hate it.
The bike is also way heavier than a normal bike.
A bike rental run by the city is a good thing, but these private “disruptions” are just leeching off of good public infrastructure whilst making it worse for all involved.
Okay, we are simply talking about different things. I’m not advocating for some battery propelled tourist death traps.
Where I’ve seen it best implemented, the bikes were a single speed with a basket and bell. No one can go dangerously fast, in fact everyone ends up going the same speed regardless of age or fitness.
Due to the high availability of bikes, all the night life spots piled up with bikes and we always had a ride home.
You’re wrong about the bikes. Inexpensive rental bicycles are a great solution to a myriad of problems. And for every bike parked in a wheelchair ramp there is 10 cars blocking handicap parking.
They’re great when they’re run by the city and there’s designated spots to park/charge them. Our city does have one such program, but that doesn’t stop the bazingabrains from littering the sidewalks with their versions. There’s also the issue that they externalize all the losses by “renting” the bikes to 3rd parties who have to go around at night charging the things and eat the losses when they get broken/stolen.
I disagree, my city has the dedicated drop off zones and guess what, they’re ALL on the sidewalks. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if pedestrians were more than an afterthought (compared to cars). Ideally, the rental bikes should be allowed to park wherever, including (especially?) in car parking spaces.
Not sure why you take issue with a company’s profits being centered around maintaining the bikes. “Externalizing the losses” is not a meaningful expression - both companies are profiting from the relationship.
The third party is usually a gig worker and not another company.
They’re right about the bikes. It’s mainly tourists that make use of them, and - unlike with in-person rentals - the people renting are given no course on road safety or how to signal. So you get a bunch of drunk people with no knowledge or respect of trafic barreling thru bikelanes way too fast, only to then ditch their bikes on the aforementioned bikelane, because they do not own the bike and they give no fucks about the place they’re at and there is no system of accountability. I see this all the time, it sucks and I hate it.
The bike is also way heavier than a normal bike.
A bike rental run by the city is a good thing, but these private “disruptions” are just leeching off of good public infrastructure whilst making it worse for all involved.
Okay, we are simply talking about different things. I’m not advocating for some battery propelled tourist death traps.
Where I’ve seen it best implemented, the bikes were a single speed with a basket and bell. No one can go dangerously fast, in fact everyone ends up going the same speed regardless of age or fitness.
Due to the high availability of bikes, all the night life spots piled up with bikes and we always had a ride home.
Behold the People’s bicycle