31–40 of 157 posts
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.
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…
There are electric versions of both.
Probably half the younger children round here have a normal kick scooter. They can "walk" with their parents much further without getting tired.
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…
Worth noting that those Bird and Lime scooters are illegal in some countries, like the UK. Bird cannot expand to the UK without laws changing (which I'm sure there's plenty of lobbying going on to ensure).
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.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Do you know if the restrictions apply to the electronically assisted "e-bikes". They pretty much operate like a normal bike, but require minimal effort to go up hills. Example: https://www.limebike.com/electric-assist-bike
There are probably four or five competing services in my city and yet I have never actually seen a single person actually riding them. There are certainly people riding bikes but it's always their own bike.
Complications I See:
- There's a pretty narrow window between a distance that's too far to walk but impractical to hire a car. And since ride sharing is super cheap for this use-case it's a tough market.
- It's useless if people are unfit to drive: injury, tired, drunk, etc..
- It's not great for going places with friends because it doesn't take a very large group before someone isn't fit to bike. Also, for 6 people each taking a bike is $24 for a 30 min ride. Any ride sharing company will be cheaper than that, you don't have to work, and you'll get there much faster than 30 min.
- Everyone except literally the current user of a dockless bike is going to hate them so you're limited to where the company has docking stations. They're going to be the fastest vandalized property.
- Anyone who's actually into riding bikes will just buy one. If you're going to be on them for an extended period of time you're going to want one that's light, comfortable, well maintained, and correctly sized for you. I would think these would be your loyal customers but it's exactly the opposite of what they want.
- Technically you're not guaranteed a bike back from wherever you go. Although in practice you probably will since in all likelihood you're the only user of this particular service.
- Your biggest market would be commuters who want to save on paying for a car/taxi/subway but people with regular destinations should reasonably just buy a mid-tier bike.
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…
> Though I think the unstated single most important selling point for the Lime scooter over the electric bike is that you don't need to deal with the homicidal, low awareness, little education American driver and the abhorrent infrastructure (and policies) that enable them. Except you do some places. In San Francisco it is illegal to ride an e-scooter on the sidewalk. You are supposed to ride in the bicycle lanes.
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…
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.