Dockless Bikeshare – The Dockpocalypse Nears

[ginacico]

So now we have three dockless scooter operations in DC. Waybots, LimeBike, and now Bird.

Bird’s founder is at least publicly committed “to give a share of their revenue, $1 per vehicle per day, to build bike lanes, promote safe riding, and maintain shared infrastructure. He also urged the operators to commit to keep track of their bikes and scooters, ensuring they are not cluttering neighborhoods, and to not add more vehicles unless each is getting at least three uses daily.”

[PeteD]

Pretty much this is going to become a regulatory problem. Yay for more laws.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/dockless-bike-share-floods-into-u-s-cities-with-rides-and-clutter-1522076401

[Judd]

@PeteD 176945 wrote:

Pretty much this is going to become a regulatory problem. Yay for more laws.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/dockless-bike-share-floods-into-u-s-cities-with-rides-and-clutter-1522076401

Doesn’t pretty much all new technology lead to new regulations though?

[Erin Potter]

@ginacico 176940 wrote:

So now we have three dockless scooter operations in DC. Waybots, LimeBike, and now Bird.

I’m curious about these, because I have NO interest in them, and response from most folks I know is similar, but it feels like they’re capturing a group of people that aren’t interested in biking, or really, walking. The perception seems to be that it’s more approachable/more fun/easier to use/easier to wear professional attire than a bike. A woman in my office said seeing them filled her with delight. While I’m not into scooters, I am into people being delighted by their transportation options. I have similar thoughts on the e-boost skateboard/e-unicycle/mixed rideable communities that I’m starting to see.

[Judd]

@Steve O 176894 wrote:

Of course, we’ve gotten used to these kinds of things related to automobiles.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17698[/ATTACH]

WAMU just had a great article about the Anacostia River which discussed the number of tires that were pulled out of the river when the first clean up efforts began. Tires in the river continue to be a problem in addition to tons of plastic trash.

Article is here: https://wamu.atavist.com/anacostia-rising#chapter-3561428

[huskerdont]

@wheels&wings 176885 wrote:

I’m not sure if anyone’s posted this yet…a photo-essay in The Atlantic on the bike-share oversupply in China. Amazing pictures.
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/bike-share-oversupply-in-china-huge-piles-of-abandoned-and-broken-bicycles/556268/

HS, no matter how messed up your messedupedness is, in China, it’s even more messed up.

[ginacico]

@Erin Potter 176947 wrote:

it feels like they’re capturing a group of people that aren’t interested in biking

@Erin Potter 176947 wrote:

The perception seems to be that it’s more approachable/more fun/easier to use/easier to wear professional attire than a bike.

@Erin Potter 176947 wrote:

I am into people being delighted by their transportation options.

Well stated! I am curious, also.

“Cyclists” tend to have one hammer, therefore everything looks like a nail. Plenty of voices assert that you can use a bike for everything, but the truth is most people won’t. I think to make DC and the metro area much more easily navigable for the community at large, these e-assist skateboard/unicycle/scooter/bike options will fill gaps that trains, buses, and even bikeshares don’t fill. It’s hard to predict how people will use these gizmos because they haven’t been widely available before. But in the grand social experiment figuring out how to get around with minimal fossil fuels and the least amount of hassle, I welcome new ideas and will pay attention to how it all plays out.

[bentbike33]

@huskerdont 176952 wrote:

messedupedness

MR. SCOTT: “Cap’n, the spellcheck systems are tryin’ to shut us down!”
KIRK: “Go to manual override! NOW Scottie!”

[n18]

@Erin Potter 176947 wrote:

I’m curious about these, because I have NO interest in them, and response from most folks I know is similar, but it feels like they’re capturing a group of people that aren’t interested in biking, or really, walking. The perception seems to be that it’s more approachable/more fun/easier to use/easier to wear professional attire than a bike. A woman in my office said seeing them filled her with delight. While I’m not into scooters, I am into people being delighted by their transportation options. I have similar thoughts on the e-boost skateboard/e-unicycle/mixed rideable communities that I’m starting to see.

I always thought those who buy scooters/skateboards did so because they couldn’t afford bikes, or because they are more long lasting than cheap bikes, so they have better value. I think the average person who never tried scooters/skateboards and the like is scared from falling while using them(and so am I). So I think they appeal to those who tried scooters/skateboards before.

[Judd]

Aaron Landry posted a video of a ride on a Bird Scooter.

https://twitter.com/s4xton/status/980547289713430529?s=21

[s4xton]

@Judd 177066 wrote:

Aaron Landry posted a video of a ride on a Bird Scooter.

https://twitter.com/s4xton/status/980547289713430529?s=21

I have tried them all: https://twitter.com/i/moments/968212637023694850

[josh]

Here’s an article with a bunch of photos of dockless vehicle graveyards here in the US.

[Judd]

MoBike was recently purchased plus some interesting information about the backers of the Chinese dockless companies.

https://t.co/UYyCt08QTW

[Judd]

MoBike was recently purchased plus some interesting information about the backers of the Chinese dockless companies.

https://t.co/UYyCt08QTW

[rcannon100]

Saw a guy in a homeless camp yesterday parking his… um…. personal yellow dockless bike

[Author]

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