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What’s going on with Army Navy Drive? The bike lanes (all except a small segment near the underpass to the country club) disappeared awhile ago when the stripes were ground away. Just this week the surface was chip-sealed.

Are the bike lanes coming back?

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GGWash comparison of dockless systems (no review of Jump yet). With some explanation of how things work; e.g., rebalancing crews go pick up bikes outside the geofencing, and the ring in the basket of a Mobike is actually a bottle holder.

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So, Jump is hiring.

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@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?

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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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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.

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I tried Mobike this morning, and met worktheweb for coffee at Swing’s. It disappeared and I had a little trouble finding another one, so I used CaBi to get to work.

This evening I’ll try and grab a LimeBike to ride to happy hour, just to complete the trifecta.

I think Mobike and LimeBike are private, profit-making companies. Versus Capital Bikeshare, which is government-sponsored public transportation. The dockless systems may have their place, but I’d hate for that to reduce CaBi’s great success in DC. Heck, they did all the work getting bike sharing to be accepted here, and they’re still growing.

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Oct 28 is the day of the Great Pumpkin Ride

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MXR Hubba Hubba NX deal on Massdrop

Anyone looking for an ultralight tent for bike touring? This one is our current favorite. Freestanding, two doors and vestibules, roomy inside, and it still manages to be lighter and more compact than any 2-person tent I’ve owned. Screamer deal on the price ($400 at REI).

They also have solo and 3-person models available, plus the footprint.

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From GGWash: Virginia blames bicyclists for not wanting to ride on a highway

Hey, fine by me, I didn’t ask for the stupid widening/toll project in the first place. I promise as long as I live in the area, I will never ever drive to work and never use HOT lanes.

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I have a registration that I’m not going to use. Just had knee surgery today (torn meniscus) and though I’m feeling great, committing to a ride of any length on Monday seems overly ambitious.

If you’ve been thinking about going and need a late entry, PM me!

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@jeffp 164579 wrote:

I’d rather ship it. Looking for recommendations and advice.

I’d use Bike Flights. They’ve pretty much become experts at packing and shipping bikes of all types, and should give you a decent rate.

My experience with UPS lately has not been good.

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Pretty please, someone take a picture of the inflatable Trump Chicken on your way past the Ellipse this afternoon? I’m not downtown today. 🐔

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@hozn 163986 wrote:

Just to throw out there, have you considered wider range cassettes and some road wheels for the cx bike as an alternative here?

I second this idea, is it possible to trick out your cross bike to be multi-purpose? Seems like if you work out the gear range, you’d only have to swap out wheels to accommodate different terrain.

I have a “road” bike. Frankly it seems like a one trick pony, and I don’t do that one thing very often so it gets ignored. The Salsa is just more comfortable and capable.

Another idea, have you looked at Volagi (which I think are being sold again)? Those frames can be built into some pretty amazing bikes.

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Blinky lights at the Capitol and Supreme Court.

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