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Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

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Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#91

Post by toomuchequate »

vajaya wrote: post #81

I wonder why bike sharing is still a thing in business world. Hasn't this business venture been proved to be a fiasco in China, where user base is larger in magnitude, operation cost is residual and virtually no regulation friction, compared to the u.s.? Why do lyft, uber and others think it is viable(profitable) in the u.s.? Another thing beyond me is although the business model/development of this kind seems to be…

Same.

Lots of dumb money in the market too. Reminds me of Crypto before each collapse.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#92

Post by cgati »

jessriedel wrote: post #89
cgati wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Ford e-bike fleet got pulled due to some bikes experiencing too strong a braking force on the front wheel. They've been working on a redesigned e-bike and that will be coming soon.

> some bikes experiencing too strong a braking force on the front wheel Was that actually confirmed or just alleged?

They said as much in an email to subscribers of the service (of which I am one.) That said, I do understand there will be skepticism around the nature and timing of pulling the fleet. They did send out a survey in October of 2018 asking for feedback on the e-bikes and I do specifically remember a question asking if respondents would be willing to pay more for e-bike access. Take that for what you will.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#93

Post by 3xblah »

vajaya wrote: post #81

I wonder why bike sharing is still a thing in business world. Hasn't this business venture been proved to be a fiasco in China, where user base is larger in magnitude, operation cost is residual and virtually no regulation friction, compared to the u.s.? Why do lyft, uber and others think it is viable(profitable) in the u.s.? Another thing beyond me is although the business model/development of this kind seems to be…

"I hope someone would correct me..."

s/grand new ponzi//

The capital is cheaper than ever and so is the hype.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#94

Post by toomuchequate »

paxys wrote: post #30
Larrikin wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if I don't care whether Lyft gets their ROI and just want the best bike share possible?

Blame your elected officials for signing the contract.

Better, blame the people who voted them in.

In modern times regulations are monopolistic power grabs by corporations, not the 'protection' they are intended to be.

It has been clear this happens, but people continue to elect politicians that regulate anyway.

Hopefully this is a traumatic event and teaches this community a good lesson. Our locals cities can take note, and their voters learn an important lesson that could otherwise harm national level elections.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#95

Post by dnautics »

will_brown wrote: post #73
untog wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't really have to feel sorry for them, you just have to recognise that they are entitled to what their contract says they are. If you're against an exclusivity agreement (which actually makes a lot of sense when establishing a transportation network) then your complaint should be with the government, not Lyft.

It is pretty rich one of two billion dollar ride sharing tech companies who disrupted the corrupt taxi monopolies by illegally skirting regulations is now suing a city for damages over a contract they claim gives them a legal exclusivity to operate bike sharing. Same people who cried foul over the taxi token system and called it a monopoly...just goes to show what SV disruption is all about.

How did they "illegally skirt regulations"? Having read the california taxi and car-for-hire codes a few months before uber came into existance, I can tell you that in california, at least, lyft was breaking no laws. Uber, was, since it was called "ubercab" and you can't have "taxi" or "cab" in your corporate name without actually being a taxi or cab.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#96

Post by EForEndeavour »

truebosko wrote: post #75

I pay $50 CAD a year for bike share across Toronto. This seems pretty expensive, to be honest.

How are you paying $50/year? Bike Share Toronto costs CAD$100/year. If you took advantage of their Presto card discount, that used to be 50% off for the first year of membership, recently reduced to 30% off the first year: https://bikesharetoronto.com/presto/

Bike Share Toronto is heavily subsidized by the city and Ontario, and operates at a loss: https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2019/02/28/bike-share...

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#97

Post by vajaya »

woodruffw wrote: post #85
vajaya wrote: post #81

I wonder why bike sharing is still a thing in business world. Hasn't this business venture been proved to be a fiasco in China, where user base is larger in magnitude, operation cost is residual and virtually no regulation friction, compared to the u.s.? Why do lyft, uber and others think it is viable(profitable) in the u.s.? Another thing beyond me is although the business model/development of this kind seems to be…

My 0.02c as a Citi Bike (NYC's bikeshare) subscriber: I wouldn't be surprised if there's a modest profit to be made in bike sharing, at least in NYC. I know quite a few people with a yearly subscription (either personally or via their employer), and I would consider paying for one personally now that I've experienced their convenience. I don't know how much money Citi Bike/Motivate actually makes here, although AFAIK…

I don't have their unit economy data, but I'm still (stubbornly) skeptical of the profitability of bike sharing. One reason is the market depth, in the sense that most of the time it's just young, educated and often bourgeois people in metropolis, which is a tiny proportion of people, who ride bike for purposes other than recreational.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#98

Post by damnyou »

praneshp wrote: post #29
Larrikin wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if I don't care whether Lyft gets their ROI and just want the best bike share possible?

That's the same as "What if I don't care about killing other people and just want the most space for myself". A contract is a contract.

No, a contract is not simply a contract. Contracts are only enforced when a court agrees they are enforceable. A court can declare a contract unenforceable for a variety of reasons, such as if it was ill-formed, one side was overwhelmingly more powerful, or the contract is against public policy (such as non-compete agreements in California).

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/unenforceable-contra...

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#99

Post by modo_ »

vajaya wrote: post #81

I wonder why bike sharing is still a thing in business world. Hasn't this business venture been proved to be a fiasco in China, where user base is larger in magnitude, operation cost is residual and virtually no regulation friction, compared to the u.s.? Why do lyft, uber and others think it is viable(profitable) in the u.s.? Another thing beyond me is although the business model/development of this kind seems to be…

I struggle to justify the purchase as a whole, but I think one component of the value a company like uber or lyft gains from an acquisition like this is to have a stronger stake in my transportation mindshare.

If I'm opening their app regardless of which transportation method I end up using, I'm more likely to keep coming back and will frequently choose to move up a tier (scooter -> bike -> car) if the price is "just a few dollars more".

It's worth considering the data component as well -- there's a tangible benefit to knowing which mode of transportation people are choosing for which trips.

Re: Lyft Takes over Ford GoBike

#100

Post by scottlamb »

vadym909 wrote: post #79
scottlamb wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You probably should be upset with the city for granting the monopoly in the first place. Now that they have, I'm not sure. Maybe there's a legal and ethical way to break the contract, but arguing dockless bikes aren't bike sharing probably isn't it.

you are just making the taxi medallion owner's point against Lyft and Uber

Yeah, the hypocrisy of this particular company getting (through acquisition) an exclusive contract and aggressively defending it didn't escape me, and I'd be happy to hear a good way to break it.
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