Bike Share SWAT team

This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 11 months ago by txgoonie.

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August 17, 2011 at 3:01 pm #910274

Brendan von Buckingham
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Metro emergency? Hundreds of people waiting for shuttle buses? No cabs in sight? Bike Share to the Rescue!

That’s what I want to see. Next time Metro closes a station and has to use shuttle buses to get around a blockage (like this week when the Yellow/blue line flooded at one of the Alexandria stations) I want to see Bike Share trucks show up with dozens of bikes and offer them to the masses of stranded commuters. Come up with some quickie registration. Under the right conditions, people could just bike to the next Metro Station and drop the bikes off with another Bike Share truck. That truck then ferries them back to the problem station so more stranded commuters can be served. Or of course people can just bike to a Bike Share station.

There’s no better way to get publicity and get some quick subscribers than riding to the rescue in an emergency. It would be pretty cool.
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August 19, 2011 at 2:36 am #929382

SteveTheTech
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Seems like a great idea.

I would imagine implementation would require some serious investment, and the increased bicycle traffic on a really bad day might make the situation a bit worse.

Although I really think any of the logistical concerns could be worked out, and if that were to take off anywhere DC would be the ideal location. Although it would be a shame for the mobile delivery unit to be stuck in traffic.

August 19, 2011 at 11:37 am #929386

Brendan von Buckingham
Participant

I see your point about the truck ironically being stuck in traffic. Hmmmmmm. Helicopters then.

August 19, 2011 at 6:14 pm #929411

Brendan von Buckingham
Participant

Or like this weekend when they shut down portions of the Red line this weekend: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5006

August 19, 2011 at 7:46 pm #929418

SteveTheTech
Participant

That would be an ideal way to get started, and to gauge the interest of metro riders in getting themselves there.

Personally I’d do it if I were so dressed, or I had gone there with the intention of riding a bike. If you could get the support or wmata to maybe retweet your intentions or get wtop to add that to the traffic reports and new stories.

I bet organizing and funding this type of experiment would be much easier when it could be planned. Securing a roll back or large Ryder van for transport would be much easier with some advanced notice.

August 21, 2011 at 3:07 pm #929456

DCLiz
Participant

Most Metro stations (at least downtown) have a BikeShare station within a block or two. What if we just had the SWAT team directing people to the closest station and passing out instructions on how to use it?

I actually used BikeShare for this very purpose last weekend — there were delays on the Red Line, and my train wasn’t even showing up on the information display. I opened up the SpotCycle app, found a station a block away, and rode to my destination a couple of metro stops away (this was one of the few times I’ve ridden without a helmet). But, if I weren’t already a member, I may not have even thought to look for a nearby station.

August 23, 2011 at 7:47 pm #929556

RESTONTODC
Participant

After the Earthquake, all the bikes at Chinatown station are gone. Traffic is really bad. It’s best day to be on the bike.

August 23, 2011 at 8:38 pm #929557

txgoonie
Participant

I was really surprised to see one of the Crystal City bikeshare stations totally full after the earthquake. All the office buildings had been evacuated, and everyone was just standing around. If I hadn’t had my own bike, I wouldda been all over that!
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