Shared Scooters and E-bikes
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Shared Scooters and E-bikes
Is anyone in a city where the scooter companies are also renting e-bikes? I live in a city where they have only placed scooters and I'm wondering if the e-bikes make them less money? There's a cap on units right now so they can't bring any more but that may change.
#2
Senior Member
My home town has both (Santa Monica/Los Angeles). Not sure which makes more or less money since they are private companies and their financials aren't available to the public.
I think the electric bikes are great! See lots of people riding them. They're much more stable and safer than the stand-up scooters. On the bad side, lots of people without street cycling experience are riding them recklessly. There was a fatality last week in Santa Monica:
No official news on what happened, but word on the street (which is usually wrong) says the cyclist made a left turn in front of a car coming from the other direction.
I think the electric bikes are great! See lots of people riding them. They're much more stable and safer than the stand-up scooters. On the bad side, lots of people without street cycling experience are riding them recklessly. There was a fatality last week in Santa Monica:
No official news on what happened, but word on the street (which is usually wrong) says the cyclist made a left turn in front of a car coming from the other direction.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,946
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1829 Post(s)
Liked 1,706 Times
in
982 Posts
Those things can be a nuisance. We have only had them in Montreal for a few weeks and already the city is having trouble with them
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...ium%3Dsharebar
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...king-1.5282300
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...ium%3Dsharebar
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...king-1.5282300
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,978
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,683 Times
in
828 Posts
Colorado Springs just started e-bike sharing this spring after a couple of years of pedal-bike sharing. But no e-scooters. Denver has had e-scooters for a while as well as pedal-bike sharing. I just looked online and Denver kicked-off e-bike sharing yesterday.
But as far as I know, none of the companies in Denver or the Springs do both although Denver has scooters from Lyft and Uber.
But as far as I know, none of the companies in Denver or the Springs do both although Denver has scooters from Lyft and Uber.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Colorado Springs just started e-bike sharing this spring after a couple of years of pedal-bike sharing. But no e-scooters. Denver has had e-scooters for a while as well as pedal-bike sharing. I just looked online and Denver kicked-off e-bike sharing yesterday.
But as far as I know, none of the companies in Denver or the Springs do both although Denver has scooters from Lyft and Uber.
But as far as I know, none of the companies in Denver or the Springs do both although Denver has scooters from Lyft and Uber.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,978
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,683 Times
in
828 Posts
https://pikeride.org/faq/
The current big supporters are a local liberal arts college and a developer. When it started a local health care system was the main supporter.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Traveling through time, will return last week.
Posts: 730
Bikes: Bare Rum Sword Knuckle Runner
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 278 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
64 Posts
thousands of e scooters being dropped into cites with no bike lanes. it's a cluster f*** and I'm luv it. cities are scrambling to build lanes and find ways to accommodate them which I think will be good for cyclists as well.
Likes For REDMASTA:
#8
Senior Member
Sharing or renting?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,978
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,683 Times
in
828 Posts
I assume "bike sharing". I believe bike rentals are the traditional method...go to a bike shop, rent a bike for a set amount of time, return it to bike shop. Bike and scooter shares are the more recent multi-station, app-based, leave'm-somewhere-else when done (usually blocking the damn sidewalk).
Correct me if I'm wrong...(It IS bikeforums after all).
Correct me if I'm wrong...(It IS bikeforums after all).
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I hope you're right because the debate here has made both pro- and anti- scooter politicians admit the infrastructure sucks. We'll see if they do anything about it.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I think most bike share programs are rentals but they're operated by government or a quasi-governmental agency. The short term rates are higher on the premise they will be used for short trips. The bike shares I know about are all docked but the companies like Jump, Bird, Lyft, etc. all are dockless just like the scooters. These companies all have enormous amounts of capital and they are burning it at a fast rate. Uber (which owns Jump) lost a bazillion dollars last quarter. It will be interesting to see who is still standing (or riding) in a couple of years.
From what I can tell they are all going to e-bikes because they have a higher utilization rate than bicycles. I rode a Jump e-bike and it was of pretty good quality and had good pickup.
From what I can tell they are all going to e-bikes because they have a higher utilization rate than bicycles. I rode a Jump e-bike and it was of pretty good quality and had good pickup.
I assume "bike sharing". I believe bike rentals are the traditional method...go to a bike shop, rent a bike for a set amount of time, return it to bike shop. Bike and scooter shares are the more recent multi-station, app-based, leave'm-somewhere-else when done (usually blocking the damn sidewalk).
Correct me if I'm wrong...(It IS bikeforums after all).
Correct me if I'm wrong...(It IS bikeforums after all).
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,815
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1592 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,023 Times
in
575 Posts
I assume "bike sharing". I believe bike rentals are the traditional method...go to a bike shop, rent a bike for a set amount of time, return it to bike shop. Bike and scooter shares are the more recent multi-station, app-based, leave'm-somewhere-else when done (usually blocking the damn sidewalk).
Correct me if I'm wrong...(It IS bikeforums after all).
Correct me if I'm wrong...(It IS bikeforums after all).
The "sharing" terminology was borrowed from the Uber world, where the euphemism was arguably employed to further the notion that those businesses were not taxi services and thus fell outside of extant regulatory processes. But Uber is really just a taxi service you summon via app rather than a phone call or raised hand and bike sharing is just bike rental that doesn't require human contact.
Likes For jon c.:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,072
Bikes: my precious steel boys
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 438 Post(s)
Liked 603 Times
in
359 Posts
I think it also comes from older-style bike share systems which were more appropriately named- eg free bikes, intended for use in a small (frequently a college campus) setting which were free to use- theft prevention was just via honor system. Think a few small towns used this kind of thing too.
#14
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
I already share the hiker biker trails with walkers, runners, people with baby carriages, bikes, trikes, roller skaters, skate boards, electric bikes, electric trikes, and people with dogs. So what is one more type of device going to matter?
#15
20+mph Commuter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Greenville. SC USA
Posts: 7,518
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1434 Post(s)
Liked 331 Times
in
219 Posts
New Orleans USA has non-electric bike share for about two years now. I think it works really well in my city. Electric bike shares are coming I have heard. eScooters businesses are banned.
I use the bikes a fair amount myself and they are called BlueBikes after Blue Cross Blue Shield medical insurance company who sponsors them. My only gripe is the keyboard panel push buttons often have to be pushed a zillion times for my code to be entered and some of the displays are near impossible to read in bright sunlight. Summer in New Orleans in bright sunlight it is pushing 120°F mid day so jerking around with a goofy keyboard for five minutes is darned uncomfortable. And maddening.
Otherwise I feel the bike share is a nice addition to our bike culture. I hope they can afford the upkeep. They are owned and operated by Uber. So who knows what kind of money they want to throw at maintenance.
I use the bikes a fair amount myself and they are called BlueBikes after Blue Cross Blue Shield medical insurance company who sponsors them. My only gripe is the keyboard panel push buttons often have to be pushed a zillion times for my code to be entered and some of the displays are near impossible to read in bright sunlight. Summer in New Orleans in bright sunlight it is pushing 120°F mid day so jerking around with a goofy keyboard for five minutes is darned uncomfortable. And maddening.
Otherwise I feel the bike share is a nice addition to our bike culture. I hope they can afford the upkeep. They are owned and operated by Uber. So who knows what kind of money they want to throw at maintenance.
#16
Senior Member
Under normal use with normal people, it, (scooter,/mopeds) are not going to matter at all.... Unfortunately, People being people, Just because something has pedals, and looks like a bicycle, they consider it a bicycle, even when tho, there's absolutely no human effort is involved in making the "bicycle" move. it starts to become a "problem" and depending on their numbers can become a huge "problem"... IMO...
#18
Senior Member
The "problem" IMO, starts when a motorised bike starts to be used on sidewalks and trails, where only bicycle's are allowed... It's as simple as that. Anything with a throttle is a motorised vehicle, IMO, (not talking about a wheelchair type). E-Assist bikes, have no throttle and must be pedalled, thus the legal definition is that they are still bicycles and can be used anywhere a bicycle is allowed... Then along comes the E-Bike with a throttle and... People are using these motorised bikes under the guise of "it's a bicycle" cause it has pedals, which are hardly, if ever used, at least not the ones I see around here...
EDIT; In other words, even regular bicycles could be banned from trails and sidewalks where they are allowed today, as a way to deal with said motorized bikes..
EDIT; In other words, even regular bicycles could be banned from trails and sidewalks where they are allowed today, as a way to deal with said motorized bikes..
Last edited by 350htrr; 10-14-19 at 03:29 PM.
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The "problem" IMO, starts when a motorised bike starts to be used on sidewalks and trails, where only bicycle's are allowed... It's as simple as that. Anything with a throttle is a motorised vehicle, IMO, (not talking about a wheelchair type). E-Assist bikes, have no throttle and must be pedalled, thus the legal definition is that they are still bicycles and can be used anywhere a bicycle is allowed... Then along comes the E-Bike with a throttle and... People are using these motorised bikes under the guise of "it's a bicycle" cause it has pedals, which are hardly, if ever used, at least not the ones I see around here...
EDIT; In other words, even regular bicycles could be banned from trails and sidewalks where they are allowed today, as a way to deal with said motorized bikes..
EDIT; In other words, even regular bicycles could be banned from trails and sidewalks where they are allowed today, as a way to deal with said motorized bikes..
I support treating e-bikes just like bicycles when it comes to their legal status. If you want to grow bicycling then we need a big tent and that includes e-bikes. I want to see the scooter companies in my city rent e-bikes, which they do in other places, just so it increases the number of bicycles on the street.
#20
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 154
Bikes: 1996 Cannondale R900, 2016 Trek Boone, 2005 Giant Yukon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 584 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times
in
54 Posts
Yes parts of the greater Phoenix area has ride share scooters and bikes. There's quite a bit around Tempe, but recently cut back since Tempe imposed hefty registration fees on each unit. They are amazing to use to get around and then set it and forget it.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: lost
Posts: 538
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 128 Post(s)
Liked 98 Times
in
49 Posts
https://www.chicagotribune.com/busin...fui-story.html
After about 800,000 rides and many ER visits. The Chicago scooter pilot comes to an end.
After about 800,000 rides and many ER visits. The Chicago scooter pilot comes to an end.
#25
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
The "problem" IMO, starts when a motorised bike starts to be used on sidewalks and trails, where only bicycle's are allowed... It's as simple as that. Anything with a throttle is a motorised vehicle, IMO, (not talking about a wheelchair type). E-Assist bikes, have no throttle and must be pedalled, thus the legal definition is that they are still bicycles and can be used anywhere a bicycle is allowed... Then along comes the E-Bike with a throttle and... People are using these motorised bikes under the guise of "it's a bicycle" cause it has pedals, which are hardly, if ever used, at least not the ones I see around here...
EDIT; In other words, even regular bicycles could be banned from trails and sidewalks where they are allowed today, as a way to deal with said motorized bikes..
EDIT; In other words, even regular bicycles could be banned from trails and sidewalks where they are allowed today, as a way to deal with said motorized bikes..