Another Etiquette Question

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  • July 25, 2013 at 1:04 pm #913823
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    Since the last one got so many good responses here’s another one:

    You are a key holding annual member and are walking up to a station with one bike left in it. You notice someone at the kiosk of the station who is putting in their credit card to get a code to check out the bike as a casual user.

    So, do you take out the last remaining bike at the dock with your key, even though there is someone else who has already started the slower check out process, or do you wait/move on to another station?

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Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • July 25, 2013 at 1:16 pm #976558
    KelOnWheels
    Participant

    Keep on keepin’ on, fancy key haver. They got there first.

    July 25, 2013 at 1:21 pm #976560
    Steve
    Participant

    I am not a CaBi member and had lots of anxiety about this when getting to a station with my wife and only two bikes left. For two people to use the kiosk, it takes a few minutes, and I was very worried that a key haver would come take one of them.

    I think if people are clearly lined up trying to use the kiosk, then you have to let them have the bikes. It’s just common decency.

    July 25, 2013 at 1:24 pm #976561
    eminva
    Participant

    I know not all daily users are tourists, but I would put this in the category of things I have done over my 28 years in Washington to help visitors feel welcome here. I would let them have first dibs on the bike and offer to help with check out process, directions, etc.

    Liz

    July 25, 2013 at 1:36 pm #976564
    jrenaut
    Participant

    Tim, stop trolling for drama. Or get better at it.

    What if the tourist DOESN’T HAVE A HELMET?

    July 25, 2013 at 1:38 pm #976565
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    @jrenaut 59083 wrote:

    Tim, stop trolling for drama. Or get better at it.

    But these are the types of esoteric questions of morality we grapple with on a daily basis at the BikeArlington headquarters to relieve our dreadful summer ennui….

    July 25, 2013 at 1:39 pm #976566
    jrenaut
    Participant

    @Tim Kelley 59084 wrote:

    But these are the types of esoteric questions of morality we grapple with on a daily basis at the BikeArlington headquarters to relieve our dreadful summer ennui….

    If you’re bored, you should go for a bike ride.

    July 25, 2013 at 1:42 pm #976568
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    @jrenaut 59085 wrote:

    If you’re bored, you should go for a bike ride.

    Done!

    But seriously though–we’ve seen these types of etiquette questions pop up from time to time. I’m glad to see that most everyone on the forum here are very nice people.

    July 25, 2013 at 2:11 pm #976579
    KLizotte
    Participant

    @KelOnWheels 59077 wrote:

    Keep on keepin’ on, fancy key haver. They got there first.

    +1

    July 25, 2013 at 2:46 pm #976590
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    I use CaBi frequently (although not too often for bike commuting) and I’ve never seen anyone waiting at an empty station for a bike. Probably because I try not to ride during rush hour that often. I had honestly never thought about this issue. And since I tend not to bike-commute in the morning on CaBi, I probably won’t run into this situation in the future.

    The more common problem when riding to downtown D.C. is seeing a completely full station.

    July 25, 2013 at 2:53 pm #976593
    ShawnoftheDread
    Participant

    @eminva 59080 wrote:

    I know not all daily users are tourists, but I would put this in the category of things I have done over my 28 years in Washington to help visitors feel welcome here. I would let them have first dibs on the bike and offer to help with check out process, directions, etc.

    Liz

    Liz is clearly the nicest person on the internets.

    July 25, 2013 at 4:32 pm #976624
    Steve
    Participant

    @eminva 59080 wrote:

    things I have done over my 28 years in Washington

    I didn’t know you were born here.

    July 25, 2013 at 5:36 pm #976639
    acc
    Participant

    @Tim Kelley 59074 wrote:

    Since the last one got so many good responses here’s another one:

    You are a key holding annual member and are walking up to a station with one bike left in it. You notice someone at the kiosk of the station who is putting in their credit card to get a code to check out the bike as a casual user.

    So, do you take out the last remaining bike at the dock with your key, even though there is someone else who has already started the slower check out process, or do you wait/move on to another station?

    Well geez, I’m gonna get caught. So, duh. I mean if I wasn’t going to be seen that’s an entirely different situation.

    October 9, 2013 at 3:31 pm #983263
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    I finally arrived at a full station at the same time as another rider. But no conflict or tough decision was involved. Neither of us could dock our bike. I did arrive ten seconds before the other person but no docks were open.

    I was calm because I saw a CaBi rebalancing van a couple blocks away and followed it to downtown DC. So I knew that spaces were likely to open up shortly. The CaBi employee parked the van and removed two bikes from the station. Perfect. A third rider showed up. He would probably get an open dock in 30 seconds.

    Then when I walked into the office, I learned that all of my CaBi promoting has had an effect. One guy told me that he just downloaded the SpotCycle app and that he was going to sign up as a CaBi member soon. I talk up CaBi very frequently, both with co-workers and with tourists that I meet at CaBi stations. I don’t know how many have become members as a result, but I like to think that more than a few have. Am I eligible for a commission?

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