Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#101

Post by dumbfounder » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:18 PM UTC

tobltobs wrote: post #82

txcwpalpha wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an assist electric bike. It's not like riding a moped or a motorcycle. You still have to pedal, but the bike kicks in the electric motor during some situations (such as when going uphill or starting from a dead stop) to make the pedaling easier. When the motor isn't on (such as when you're going downhill or slowing down), the battery recharges itself using your pedaling. edit: as pointed out, this type of chargi…

Recuperation alone would prolong the max. distance by max 5% or so. If you would have to recharge the battery while pedaling this wouldn't be a great experience. Together with the heavy weight of a ebike this wouldn't make any sense.

Maybe it charges under braking only.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#102

Post by ACow_Adonis » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:18 PM UTC

notyourwork wrote: post #54

mmahemoff wrote: post #38

There's a lot of room for improvement over the new wave of bike startups. I had shockingly bad experiences with OBike - extremely inaccurate locations for their bikes, broken seat, zero response from support when I explained I couldn't lock the bike, and apparently no restrictions in the whole country, so bikes end up all over the country as well as in people's residences or workplaces (not to mention canals and rive…

> Mobike seems like they have their heads more switched on, but the seat on current models is so low that their bikes (in London at least) are barely usable to anyone at average adult height or above. Are you not able to adjust the seat? Considering the varying heights of people this would seem like a standard expected feature.

I'm not from London, not have a used mobike, but one of the criticisms of obike (one of the schemes started here in Melbourne) is that they've apparently dumped a supply of bikes that SEEM like they were designed for a population of much shorter people (the assumption is east Asian populations).

Either way, when half the male population is 6ft or above, it seems the bikes are just generally too small, even with the seat extended to their maximum height.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#103

Post by subpixel » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:18 PM UTC

bunderbunder wrote: post #73

How do people who've used it feel about the dockless iteration of bike sharing? I've never had occasion to try it, but I'm very skeptical. It seems like letting people leave the bike more-or-less wherever is optimizing the end-of-ride experience at the expense of pretty much every other part of the operation aside from actually riding the bike. I don't think I'd want to start my morning commute by hunting around in a…

In NYC, there are precious few objects to lock a bike to at street level. Locking your bike to a street sign is illegal. I have no idea where thousands of Uber bikes might wind up.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#104

Post by Reason077 » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:18 PM UTC

mmahemoff wrote: post #38

There's a lot of room for improvement over the new wave of bike startups. I had shockingly bad experiences with OBike - extremely inaccurate locations for their bikes, broken seat, zero response from support when I explained I couldn't lock the bike, and apparently no restrictions in the whole country, so bikes end up all over the country as well as in people's residences or workplaces (not to mention canals and rive…

"Boris Bikes is still the best, but restricted to central London and can't unlock via phone."

Not true! The official Santander Cycles app lets you hire a bike via your phone. Works well and saves a huge amount of time compared to using the kiosks.

I agree that the current Boris Bikes are the best, though they have a new lighter, smaller bike model which feels a lot more like a Mobike/ofo to ride. Not as nice IMO.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#105

Post by icebraining » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:18 PM UTC

bunderbunder wrote: post #73

How do people who've used it feel about the dockless iteration of bike sharing? I've never had occasion to try it, but I'm very skeptical. It seems like letting people leave the bike more-or-less wherever is optimizing the end-of-ride experience at the expense of pretty much every other part of the operation aside from actually riding the bike. I don't think I'd want to start my morning commute by hunting around in a…

the consistency of walking to a known location near my house and grabbing a bike that I know will be there.

Unfortunately docks don't really provide that, I've had the misfortune of finding an empty dock more than once. It's one of the reasons that drove me to buy my own bike.

Still, it probably beats dockless.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#106

Post by dmix » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:19 PM UTC

mpermar wrote: post #96

This can be great if they start putting bike racks within hotel properties, which would be great for them too as there is a) easy access to people that do not have vehicles, and b) hotel properties use to be "reasonably" safe for parking. In any case as someone mentions here, it can canibalize its own business we hotel residents tend to use Uber-like services a lot.

This link wasnt loading on my phone but apparently JUMP is a 'dockless' service. Not sure if they even have typical racks of bikes like other bike share services.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#107

Post by gamblor956 » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:19 PM UTC

cpsempek wrote: post #44

First of all, this is great. The thing that bike share programs lack IMO is the tech and logistics savvy of a company like uber. In Santa Monica and the west side of LA we have an electric scooter service called Bird, which was started by a ex-lyft/uber excec, and it has been successfull from an outsider's perspective. The most convenient aspect of this service is that you can drop off the scooter anywhere you want,…

The main problem with the Byrd scooters is that the users turn them into safety hazards after they use them. Every time I see one of those Byrd scooters blocking the sidewalk, I physically throw them out of the way. About half the time, they form safety hazards blocking the sidewalk (and in rare cases, part of traffic lanes).

There were two blocking the Metro station last week. I threw them in the bushes. The sheriff at the top of the stairs gave me a thumbs up and said he wished he could have done that.

The City is currently in the process of evaluating restrictions on where the Byrd scooters can be dropped off, to avoid safety hazards like that one.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#108

Post by cpsempek » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:19 PM UTC

txcwpalpha wrote: post #62

cpsempek wrote: post #44

First of all, this is great. The thing that bike share programs lack IMO is the tech and logistics savvy of a company like uber. In Santa Monica and the west side of LA we have an electric scooter service called Bird, which was started by a ex-lyft/uber excec, and it has been successfull from an outsider's perspective. The most convenient aspect of this service is that you can drop off the scooter anywhere you want,…

>The most convenient aspect of this service is that you can drop off the scooter anywhere you want, there are no designated drop off zones, which is a true solution to the last mile problem. In Dallas, there are 6 different bikeshare companies that all operate with this model of "leave the bike where ever you want when done", and it's resulted in most of the city reviling all of the bikeshare companies. The bikes end…

Yes, this is a problem with the scooters too. I think there is some volume limit to the device, smaller is better for the reasons you state, which is why I think the scooter it ideal to the bike in this regard.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#109

Post by dumbfounder » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:20 PM UTC

cocktailpeanuts wrote: post #20

I would use this. I'm just concerned how they will deal with all the homeless people and thieves stealing the body parts. On that note, if this can succeed in SF it can succeed anywhere else. I once left my bike in Tenderloin overnight (Of course I had the common sense to use the U-lock) and the next morning I went back and found only the remains.

I left mine U-locked in Chinatown, DC in the middle of the day on 4th of July and it was stolen in less than 3 hours.

Re: Uber Bike – A New Way to Commute or Explore

#110

Post by AndrewWarner » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 8:20 PM UTC

dmix wrote: post #99

AndrewWarner wrote: post #16

I rode a Jump bike to work today. It's a magical experience. Just as I struggle a bit to get up a hill, the bike's pedal assist kicks in and helps me out. Ditto for when I'm stopped at a red light and need to get riding fast. The best part of these bikes are the fact that when I get to my destination, I can lock them up to the closest pole or bike rack and just go.

What does 'dockless' bike sharing mean in practice. Where do you pick up the ebikes? From the previous rider directly? How does charging the bikes work (or do they self charge via friction)?

People mostly lock the to meters, poles or bike racks.

I use the app to tell me where I can find one near my house or office.