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Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hopefully not so light that a thief can load up the whole thing and steal all the bikes.
Ten years or so ago I recall a story about some guys in Eugene unbolting an entire rack full of bikes from the asphalt and loading it into a truck. Can't find the story now.
My first thought? Bring a flat-bed and you have 10 bicycles.. Are there any security features in this concept?
> Are there any security features in this concept? The fact that you'd need a flat-bed to steal the bicycles is a security feature. People steal bikes because the penalty isn't serious. Who is going to risk a felony and their tow truck license for just a few bikes?
What makes it a success or failure?
Seems like a good way to regulate escooters. Better for cities than sidewalks, better for companies than permitting the construction of infrastructure. Flexible enough to adjust to demand.
Seattle removed its waterfront viaduct from service for a couple of weeks before changing over to the new $3.3B tunnel and traffic was mostly fine, despite apocalyptic predictions of gridlock. It's not entirely unfair to claim that they could have saved literally billions of dollars by just closing the viaduct for a month or two and observing what happens to traffic patterns.
Or businesses that predict their imminent bankruptcy when a few parking spots are removed to create a bike lane. Why not put down a few traffic cones to delineate a temporary bike lane and observe what happens to traffic in and out of the businesses?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Santa Monica is doing something similar for escooters, and calling them "drop zones"[0]. [0]: https://la.streetsblog.org/2018/11/08/santa-monica-installs-...
It's regulation, but it's kind of forcing infrastructure and government to deal with a problem when maybe the model should be that these companies are forced to rent small areas of corners, parking lots, etc. for corrals and charging, kinda like the Fotomat drive-thru camera film development, or snow cone stands. Seeing dead scooters laying in the streets here for days sucks, and while remarking the street makes sens…
Forcing each company to rent a million tiny places around the city from private parties is just highly inefficient. The transaction costs would be prohibitive.
>The fietsvlonder is a “bike platform” that temporarily swaps one car parking space for 10 bicycles. If deemed a success, the curb is permanently adjusted, and the structure is moved to the next location. What makes it a success or failure?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Are there any security features in this concept? The fact that you'd need a flat-bed to steal the bicycles is a security feature. People steal bikes because the penalty isn't serious. Who is going to risk a felony and their tow truck license for just a few bikes?
The avarage bike around here retails for about $1500, so $15000 in a single swipe isn't bad. I have seen an entire bike rack being pulled out of the ground using a truck and winch, so yes it does happen. Research has shown over and over again that penalty is seldom a factor in decision making, gain vs perceived risk of getting caught is, and stealing a single bike is still a felony. You don't need a tow truck license…
Average bike on the street? Do you have any source of similar claim?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Are there any security features in this concept? The fact that you'd need a flat-bed to steal the bicycles is a security feature. People steal bikes because the penalty isn't serious. Who is going to risk a felony and their tow truck license for just a few bikes?
The avarage bike around here retails for about $1500, so $15000 in a single swipe isn't bad. I have seen an entire bike rack being pulled out of the ground using a truck and winch, so yes it does happen. Research has shown over and over again that penalty is seldom a factor in decision making, gain vs perceived risk of getting caught is, and stealing a single bike is still a felony. You don't need a tow truck license…
The realizable value of stolen property is vastly less than the new price, even when stolen new. More like 1/10th.
Here's a bit more information on the things, in Dutch. They have 10 of them in Den Haag (The Hague), they are placed on a parking spot and left there for 3 months. Should there not be any complaints the thing will be removed and replaced with permanent cycle parking within another 3 months.
The device seems to be free-standing and to rely on weight alone to keep it in place so those of you who commented on the possibility of harvesting 10 bikes at a time using a flat bed truck may be on to something. Then again, in the Netherlands there are so many bikes around which are easier to steal that I do not deem this to be a real problem, let alone the fact that those who attempt to load it on a truck will probably not get very far.