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Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

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Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#11

Post by JumpCrisscross »

stefan_ wrote: post #9
aventrix wrote: post #5

How does the popularity of bikes compare to electric scooters? Anecdotally, I see a lot more Bird and Lime S scooters flying around than I do bicycles these days - and we do have docked bicycle and Lime bikes and Ofo options available in my city. Having tried many of these services, I find the electric scooters to be the most enjoyable, although the electric bikes are quite fun too and can be a better experience if y…

Here is what you mean when you say a scooter: https://www.limebike.com/hubfs/Assets/bike-s-2.jpg?t=1530481... Here is what much of the world thinks is a scooter: https://emmy-sharing.de/wp-content/uploads/Schwalbe_45-links... Just to clear that up. If it was between those two I'd take the latter given that hitting a pothole on that Lime thing is liable to stop all forward momentum suddenly and precariously. But reall…

> hitting a pothole on that Lime thing is liable to stop all forward momentum suddenly and precariously

Didn't think of this. Makes sense why they're doing well on the West Coast but not yet rolling out on New York's ice-torn streets.

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#12

Post by amyjess »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #2

If they can offer these without the inconvenient docking stations it’ll be a much more popular transportation option.

In Dallas, dockless bikes are nothing but problematic.

People have gotten in the habit of dumping their bikes on strangers' front lawns and laying them down on sidewalks without using the kickstand. There was a pretty public case of a blind man being seriously injured because someone left a bike just laying on the sidewalk.

In retaliation, much of the citizenry has taken to vandalizing the bikes. There are pictures online of people throwing them into ditches and creeks, people sawing the bikes in half, people turning masses of bikes into impromptu art sculptures, etc.

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#13

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

elvirs wrote: post #10

I wish they went after electric bikes or scooters. Not everyone feels like spinning pedals in the heat or cold after long day at work.

E-bikes are motor vehicles and can't be used on bike paths in NY state though they are street legal if registered. NYC park police actively ticket E-bikes on the west side.

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#14

Post by neom »

stefan_ wrote: post #9
aventrix wrote: post #5

How does the popularity of bikes compare to electric scooters? Anecdotally, I see a lot more Bird and Lime S scooters flying around than I do bicycles these days - and we do have docked bicycle and Lime bikes and Ofo options available in my city. Having tried many of these services, I find the electric scooters to be the most enjoyable, although the electric bikes are quite fun too and can be a better experience if y…

Here is what you mean when you say a scooter: https://www.limebike.com/hubfs/Assets/bike-s-2.jpg?t=1530481... Here is what much of the world thinks is a scooter: https://emmy-sharing.de/wp-content/uploads/Schwalbe_45-links... Just to clear that up. If it was between those two I'd take the latter given that hitting a pothole on that Lime thing is liable to stop all forward momentum suddenly and precariously. But reall…

Not sure if you've seen Scoot, but they have all the versions of a "scooter"! :) https://scoot.co/

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#15

Post by jaredsohn »

lhorie wrote: post #7
jaredsohn wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The docking stations are convenient in some ways because you know where to go to find a bike and you can feel good that you're not leaving it in a place that is in the way.

The one major annoyance I've found with them is that coverage is extremely restricted. In SF, coverage doesn't reach Fishermans Wharf, Golden Gate bridge or Golden Gate park. When I was in SF for tourism a few years ago, it was a complete non-starter even though at a glance it seemed like the most promising option.

>in SF for tourism a few years ago, it was a complete non-starter

That's intentional - http://www.sfexaminer.com/transportation-officials-halt-fund...

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#16

Post by ebikelaw »

aventrix wrote: post #5

How does the popularity of bikes compare to electric scooters? Anecdotally, I see a lot more Bird and Lime S scooters flying around than I do bicycles these days - and we do have docked bicycle and Lime bikes and Ofo options available in my city. Having tried many of these services, I find the electric scooters to be the most enjoyable, although the electric bikes are quite fun too and can be a better experience if y…

Motivate provides detailed data on usage. You can download it at [1]. Do Lime, Bird, etc provide it?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/fordgobike-data/index.html

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#17

Post by protonimitate »

How easy/possible would it be to re-purpose the existing bike docks into electric-scooter/ebike docks?

I have a sense with all the city/public push back against Lime bikes/ofo/bird etc. the big players are looking to soak up turf in case the regulations prevent dockless from expanding.

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#18

Post by ebikelaw »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #11
stefan_ wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is what you mean when you say a scooter: https://www.limebike.com/hubfs/Assets/bike-s-2.jpg?t=1530481... Here is what much of the world thinks is a scooter: https://emmy-sharing.de/wp-content/uploads/Schwalbe_45-links... Just to clear that up. If it was between those two I'd take the latter given that hitting a pothole on that Lime thing is liable to stop all forward momentum suddenly and precariously. But reall…

> hitting a pothole on that Lime thing is liable to stop all forward momentum suddenly and precariously Didn't think of this. Makes sense why they're doing well on the West Coast but not yet rolling out on New York's ice-torn streets.

Oakland, California has some of the worst streets in America, and getting worse. There are Limes and Birds on every corner of downtown.

Re: Lyft Follows Uber Into Bike-Sharing Lane, Buying Owner of CitiBike

#19

Post by electricslpnsld »

ebikelaw wrote: post #18
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> hitting a pothole on that Lime thing is liable to stop all forward momentum suddenly and precariously Didn't think of this. Makes sense why they're doing well on the West Coast but not yet rolling out on New York's ice-torn streets.

Oakland, California has some of the worst streets in America, and getting worse. There are Limes and Birds on every corner of downtown.

I live near Downtown Oakland and have yet to see one of these Scooters on the road -- so far the primary use case in Oakland seems to be teenagers blasting around Lake Merritt on the weekends.
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