Indeed why I’ve never signed up for these vehicle rentals. Every week there is different set of companies in my neighborhood. If they were all on a single reservation system state or nationwide I’d be a lot more interested.
Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
261–270 of 342 posts
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#262Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wish, but corruption and graft has lead LA's metrobikes to cost something like $2500 each and that program is quickly spiraling out of existence. Greedy contractors and privatization aside, you need infrastructure for transit, and for these scooters and bikes that means building bike lanes. Otherwise, it's no surprise that ridership is declining as they aren't safe on roads with LA drivers who kill more pedestrians…
>I wish, but corruption and graft has lead LA's metrobikes to cost something like $2500 each That doesn't seem too excessive to me. What do you think would be a more reasonable price for purchasing an electric bike* with a fair degree of customization and a corresponding maintenance contract? * IIRC the bikes have integrated NFC readers for your TAP card, built in U-locks, probably GPS, and that sweet sweet Metro pai…
They had a really ugly green Hulu color for a while too. I would hope that Hulu paid for those bikes.
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#263Earlier quoted context omitted.
And, you know, basic financial planning... For the vast majority of people, renting basic unsubsidized transit methods on a daily basis costs far more than owning and operating your own. Good for you if your financial situation allows you to ignore that fact, but it’s rather yuppy bubble thinking to assume that applies to everyone.
Basic financial planning would indicate that owning a money losing asset (i.e. car) is not a good idea. I can assure you I've spent far less not owning a car, even with every Uber ride, car rental, scooter rental, transit, and taxi ride.
No, basic financial planning would take into account both sides of the equation. I can own a money losing asset as long as it is costing me (including depreciation) less than what an alternative service would cost. Uber will never work out unless you drive very infrequently or live somewhere like New York where the total cost of vehicle ownership is prohibitive.
Additionally, depreciation is not linear. I drive an older vehicle, it has already mostly depreciated as far as it will go.
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#264Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree there is probably a solution for this, but these companies could have discussed this with the cities prior to dumping thousands of discarded scooters everywhere. It's being a bad neighbor to force the city to deal with a problem it didnt have last week because you have VC funding and dont mind littering. So yes, Id rather ban them and subsequently address the issue.
That's like any technology, it appears then you regulate bad behavior. Parking enforcement didn't appear before cars were invented and were suddenly parking on every free surface with no order or logic, getting in the way of pedestrians.
Bird et al were dead-set on bad behavior from the start. Santa Monica had to sue them to get them to register as a business in the city so that they could even begin to be regulated. They decided they could operate a business in the public space and flood the streets with scooters without any permits/approval.
Do you get a pass for doing something anti-social because you are a corporation?
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#265Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a bit like saying hotels are obsolete because most of the time you live in the same place and apartments make more sense. The value proposition of a scooter service is ad hoc last mile transport where you don’t have to have brought the scooter with you to use it. There may still be issues with the model. It might be that isn’t a demand profile that has the right scale to support much of a business (but could…
I suppose, but any isomorphism has its limits. For me, a scooter is much more affordable than say, a hotel. I am willing to pay a small premium in rent over buying the hotel for the convenience and flexibility of not having to own a hotel. I am fortunate enough that there's no way a lime makes any sort of financial sense for commuting last mile in a place I live. I can buy a scooter for $500; I will break even on Lim…
Are you normally able to take your scooter into public transit?
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#266Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a bit like saying hotels are obsolete because most of the time you live in the same place and apartments make more sense. The value proposition of a scooter service is ad hoc last mile transport where you don’t have to have brought the scooter with you to use it. There may still be issues with the model. It might be that isn’t a demand profile that has the right scale to support much of a business (but could…
I suppose, but any isomorphism has its limits. For me, a scooter is much more affordable than say, a hotel. I am willing to pay a small premium in rent over buying the hotel for the convenience and flexibility of not having to own a hotel. I am fortunate enough that there's no way a lime makes any sort of financial sense for commuting last mile in a place I live. I can buy a scooter for $500; I will break even on Lim…
transport != commute
Scooter shares may indeed not make much sense for commutes. That's the sort of predictable and regular need that it makes sense to optimize for time or money or both, as you've said. But then again, rideshares are rarely going to help with such optimization (probably true as long as funding a driver is part the whole thing). Personal vehicles, or public transport, or even workplace carpools make much more sense there. And yet rideshares do well enough because it turns out there's a whole class of ad hoc transport needs where summoning a ride on demand is awfully convenient.
Acquiring a scooter on demand has the same possibilities, especially if it can be economically competitive.
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#267Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can see personal e-scooters as being a great alternative to cars for short trips such as commuting less than 5-ish km to work, or taking the kids to school. However, I still think bicycles are vastly preferable. With a pannier rack you get quite a bit more cargo space, and in the winter, the fact that you're physically exerting yourself helps to keep you warm, which makes for a more comfortable and pleasant trip. A…
The major issue for me with biking, particularly e-biking, is that it can be very expensive if your bike is stolen. Secure bike parking is hard to come by in many places, and even secured bike parking can be broken into. In my city it's also very hilly, so I've taken a rideshare bike down the hill but not up it. Docking also solves this problem, but the problem with docks is that they have to go through whatever NIMB…
I'd take my bike everywhere if I knew it'd still be there after I finished having lunch, visiting friends, grocery shopping etc.
As it is though, my bike isn't even safe chained up in a locked garage.
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#268Does anyone actually think this is a profitable market? Electric scooters are expensive, repair and charging is expensive. It’s a seasonal business. Vandalism/abuse is fairly common. In terms of any environmental benefit, I highly suspect more gasoline is being consumed to collect and distribute scooters than the offset of a few last mile transports. I suspect the cost to the consumer would have to double for it to m…
Very simple, have you ever rode a scooter? Once I took a ride along the beach in Southern California, it was immediately obvious, and, I was hooked! It's a disruptive, perfect combination of technologies, that immediately antiquates riding a bike for short distances. The main problem is that it's too good, and people with poor balance, poor judgement, or bad luck, have been in accidents which ruined it for everyone e…
For me when rarely riding a scooter (in Berlin) it is always frustrating that I am (at capped 20km/h) a bit slower than the flow of numerous bicicles. This also understandably increases frustration for the cyclists (I feel the same when usually taking a bike to work).
This alone rules out taking a scooter over a bike whenever possible.
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#269This whole model is incredibly, impossibly, flawed. 9/10 times, my net displacement for the day is 0. If my net displacement is zero, I would prefer to own the medium I'm using to move. Bike, car, scooter etc. Only exception is stuff with really high capital costs, like planes and trains, in which case I pay a small fee to avoid owning a railway or airline. For scooters, there are no high capitals costs; the cost of…
What does displacement mean here?
How far the destination of his final trip of the day is from the start of his first trip of the day.
Re: Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100
#270Good!
These scooters are at best a novelty and at worst a potential vector of serious injury. I know at least three people who have been injured through recklessness or malfunction. They also tend to be dirty.
They’re a nuisance in populated areas like San Diego (where I love). People already act as if no one else is on the road with cars and bikes. Scooters appeal to (inner) children, and they can really bring out the indifference in aggressive riders. Drunk scooting is basically a license to be a prick.
The business model was terrible from the beginning. Like should have learned from its bicycle department (as well as competition) that there simply isn’t much money in this market.