Dockless Bikeshare – The Dockpocalypse Nears

[drevil]

@Dewey 165676 wrote:

Test ride report from GGW

Do my eyes deceive me, or is there no top tube of any kind, and just a down tube? Seems like it wouldn’t be very strong, but very flexy? I know the CaBis don’t either, but the down tube on those bikes are significantly larger, amirite?

I mean, how am I supposed to huck off anything and not expect the bike to fold?

[Judd]

@Drewdane 165678 wrote:

Perfectly nice bike, but the seatpost needed to be longer. I’m barely 5’8″ and with the post fully extended I still wasn’t getting full range of motion.

To their credit, they immediately answered my email, saying this was a known issue and that they’re already looking into fixes.

I sat on the Lime Bike that Gina rode to Happy Hour tonight. I’m 6’3″ and my knee was at about a 60 degree angle with the pedal all the way down. It appears that there’s still plenty of room in the bike to accommodate a longer seat post. I’m surprised this is an issue since we’re not the first implementation of the system.

Looking at their website, the pictures show that the wheels are more like Mobike wheels. The wheels on the bikes here instead have regular metal spokes which seems would increase the risk of damage when someone tries to roll the bike when the wheel is locked like I did tonight whilst conducting my “How easy is this to steal or place in a tree” test? (Answer: Pretty easy.)

I’m sure Gina will post her full review of her ride.

[jrenaut]

LEARN TO PARK by Jon, on Flickr

Didn’t take long for some incredibly lazy inconsiderate human being to park one like a [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted].

[Vicegrip]

I think that is my one hesitation to dock less bike share. Non riders get to hate the random bikes that get in their way. That hate gets redirected and we all end up with some of it on us.

[jrenaut]

@Vicegrip 165685 wrote:

I think that is my one hesitation to dock less bike share. Non riders get to hate the random bikes that get in their way. That hate gets redirected and we all end up with some of it on us.

Yeah, this is my main concern. I already get blamed for for every clown who blows a red going the wrong way on a one-way street and nearly clips and elderly woman walking. Now I’m going to get blamed for people leaving these bikes in everyone’s way?

[ginacico]

Have you unlocked one yet? Because the LimeBikes play this little song when you do, no joke. I can only imagine being a DC resident, sleeping with the windows open on an otherwise peaceful night, and some jerk comes along at 4AM to unlock the bike in front of your house. Gah, like we need more senseless noise pollution?

Full review pending.

[Subby]

In case someone gets tired walking eastbound across Key Bridge, there’s a dockless bike waiting for you about halfway across.

[Vicegrip]

@Subby 165700 wrote:

In case someone gets tired walking eastbound across Key Bridge, there’s a dockless bike waiting for you about halfway across.

“Splash” :rolleyes:

[jrenaut]

@Vicegrip 165701 wrote:

“Splash” :rolleyes:

There is already quite enough trash in our waterways

[ginacico]

Mobike

I found two at Gallery Place in front of Zaytinya. Wow, that orange color (construction sign compatible) makes them easy to spot! Simple setup with a one-touch quick-release seatpost. I was a little concerned my bag would bounce out of the basket, so in puzzling over that issue I noticed a little hinged ring on the side of the basket and wrapped a strap through it — the ring is probably there for just that purpose.

Tried three times to unlock the first bike, with no luck. The app spun around for about 30 seconds, then gave me a vague non-helpful error. Somewhere it says if the bike is “reserved” there’s a blinking blue light, but I couldn’t see one. So I repeated the setup on the second bike, and voila, after about 10 seconds the lock flipped open. Like magic from some remote control in the sky! A little creepy, kinda.

Dropped over the curb onto G Street and hopped on. Noticeable immediately, Mobikes are lighter weight than a CaBi. Also right away I sensed the 3-gear setup was different, in that I actually started off in #1 and didn’t shift to #2 until halfway down the first block. I had to stop at Every. Dang. Intersection. all the way to 14th Street, so I repeated this cycle multiple times. Gear #1 is actually useful for startup (caveat: I was being extra gentle still recovering from knee surgery), and #2 was enough propulsion for slow-moving traffic. I never actually needed #3, though on any ride longer than six blocks against traffic lights, you undoubtedly would.

When I got to Swing’s I pulled under a shade tree and pushed down the red lever to lock the bike. Incredibly simple. I did wonder though, what does the solar panel at the bottom of the basket actually power, and how does parking in the shade affect it? After Ed (worktheweb) and I chatted over a nitro latte and croissant and got up to attend to those pesky “job” thingys, my Mobike was gone. Ed hopped on a CaBi, and I stubbornly set off around the block to find another Mobike.

Two were supposed to be on 15th Street near Old Ebbitt, but if so they were invisible. The app seemed to indicate they might actually be inside the building, so I walked into some random lobby, found a huge atrium with lots of marble and plants and security guards, but didn’t see any Mobikes. Hmph, maybe people hide them in their office or something? Continued on to G Street, where one was sitting on the sidewalk but unmarked in the app. I tried twice to unlock it, no joy. Continued down to Freedom Plaza where one was supposedly waiting, and this time I hit the “Reserve” button so it wouldn’t disappear. Walked all over Freedom Plaza and couldn’t find the dang bike — really, how hard could it be? — I headed back to Swing’s and got a CaBi bike to ride to work. Not sure if their GPS locations are way off, or if I’m just inept at finding a BRIGHT ORANGE bike in a flat, treeless, concrete courtyard, but that’s how it went. The app let me “Unreserve” the bike in case someone else knew where to find it. Also, as it recorded my ride, it lost me after the first block, and my trip shows as only 0.2km (also, hello, the US uses miles).

I wish I had more faith in the map features, but the rest of the app isn’t bad. My balance (called the “Wallet”) and credits (it loaded me up with 3 free ride coupons) are clear.

HOW TO RIDE
Mobikes are free* for the month of September. Download the Mobike app, create your account, and ride. It did require me to enter credit card info. I even added a few bucks to my “Wallet” but I don’t think that part was necessary, and I did not get charged for the ride. *Update: Mobike said they had to make a change in their system yesterday, and you may actually be charged $1, but only once.

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Capital Bikeshare

What can I say, I have a huge affection for CaBi bikes. They are solid, urban tanks. The process of undocking one, riding to my office, and docking it again went seamlessly. Their new app with member account info showed me all the relevant stats. If your company or agency doesn’t have a CaBi partnership offering you a discounted membership, bug them about it.

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LimeBike

So as I’m surfing the internets at work (as we do), people started posting pictures of these lime green and yellow bikes that were supposedly all over Farragut Square. Hey, another dockless bike pilot program, I must try it! I found the LimeBike app and created my account, but I did not add $ as they say the first ride is always free.

Found a couple LimeBikes by Farragut North, again the colors make them easy to spot. The setup was basically the same as Mobikes — quick-release seatpost adjustment, and a basket for your stuff. I scanned the QR code with the app, and within about 5 seconds, the lock clicked open like magic. And the bike played a little song — no, seriously, it went “click” then “toodle-oodle-oop-dee-doo” — just like that [shudder]. This dockless bike experience gets creepier and weirder by the minute. Like we need more senseless noise pollution?

So I crossed K Street with the pedestrians, and hopped on to ride through Farragut Square. The handlebars are a swept-back configuration, and frankly they felt a little twitchy as I was navigating around self-absorbed zombie pedestrians. Somehow the whole bike just felt small. Riding a CaBi you feel like you’re driving a tank on city streets and sidewalks, they somehow shield you from anything that would make your ride unpleasant. The LimeBike is just as darn heavy (oof), but feels nowhere near as solid. The chain guard, fenders, and other pieces are cheapo plastic. Unlike the Mobikes with their burly 5-spoke configuration, LimeBikes have regular metal spokes, which can’t be all that effective with the integrated rear wheel lock. Also, the seatpost is so short that I had it maxed out (I’m 5’8” and ride a 54). Things got a little ludicrous when Judd sat on one. LimeBike says this is a known issue, and they’re working on it.

LimeBike’s app seemed to do a better job at actually finding bikes, showing them as a splatter of limes on the map (cute, or just annoying?). It gives me statistics and a detailed ride history, plus clear indication of my balance and available credits. Both LimeBike and Mobike apps have a flashlight feature for when you’re trying to scan the QR code in the dark.

HOW TO RIDE
Download the LimeBike app and set up your account. Don’t bother with $ as the first ride is always free. Before my second ride, it prompted me to add credit card info, but I didn’t get charged for the second ride either. Enter the Promo Code HELLODC for another free ride credit. It’s not clear how long the free rides will last.

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[bobco85]

Really great write-up, ginacico! I’m glad you were able to test out some of the new bikeshare systems.

I have a question for folks: has anyone found some of these dockless bikeshare bicycles in places that previously faced huge opposition to CaBi inclusion (looking at you, Memorial Drive at Arlington National Cemetery)?

I think that the addition of dockless to the area makes a lot of places that much more accessible, and I’d be happy to hear if these bikeshare bikes are allowing people to actually visit some of these places without having to resort to driving.

[Emm]

@bobco85 165706 wrote:

I have a question for folks: has anyone found some of these dockless bikeshare bicycles in places that previously faced huge opposition to CaBi inclusion (looking at you, Memorial Drive at Arlington National Cemetery)?

At this time, the dockless bikeshares aren’t allowed to be locked up on federal land (aka National Mall, White House), or outside of DC. So…not yet for places like the cemetery. But perhaps Arlington will allow them at some point, and the federal government may too if they prove successful in DC.

[Vicegrip]

@jrenaut 165702 wrote:

There is already quite enough trash in our waterways

Not encouraging or condoning, only pointing out a potential outcome given my observations on human nature.

[ginacico]

@Emm 165709 wrote:

At this time, the dockless bikeshares aren’t allowed to be locked up on federal land (aka National Mall, White House), or outside of DC. So…not yet for places like the cemetery. But perhaps Arlington will allow them at some point, and the federal government may too if they prove successful in DC.

The Mobike app actually shows a clear perimeter. Though I doubt there’s anything to keep someone from taking bikes outside the line.

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Unless the guy who left one halfway across Key Bridge got zapped by a bolt from the dockless bikeshare gods?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ginacico 165712 wrote:

The Mobike app actually shows a clear perimeter. Though I doubt there’s anything to keep someone from taking bikes outside the line.

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Unless the guy who left one halfway across Key Bridge got zapped by a bolt from the dockless bikeshare gods?

I think they charge huge “rebalancing” fees if you leave them in an unapproved zone.

[Author]

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