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I can't speak to the complexity of managing a dockless system (and in particular, their profitability), but from a UX perspective, it's a total game-changer. I
by gervase 9y ago
I can't speak to the complexity of managing a dockless system (and in particular, their profitability), but from a UX perspective, it's a total game-changer.
In my city, we started with docked, but after a dockless company arrived, literally no-one uses the docked bikes - why put up with the extra hassle of having to return the bikes for no user benefit?
The prices are already so low that I can't really see them being able to compete on price, so the only differentiating factor is ease of use, which dockless will always win on.
Also, in reply to a sibling comment, we have a pretty serious bike theft problem here, but they mostly don't bother with the dockless bikes except as a mode of transportation. Speculatively, perhaps most bike theft profits are in the gray market (i.e. Craigslist), where these highly-recognizable bikes can't be unloaded?
- ggregoire 9y ago> why put up with the extra hassle of having to return the bikes for no user benefit? What about the extra hassle of finding and walking with your map to your dockless bike? (if you are lucky enough to find one close to you) Also in both cities I lived, docking stations are everywhere, it has never been a problem (maybe once or twice a year when my usual docking station was full. Still, I just needed to go the next one, 5 min from there).
- jonknee 9y agoYou might have to hunt for one, but then you can leave it right at your destination so it should even out somewhat. That said, dockless bikes are everywhere in Seattle right now. Docked bikes never took off here, but I see people on the dockless ones all the time.
- icebraining 9y agoThe system in Hamburg (StadtRAD) is an hybrid: you have to bring it to a dock, but if the dock's full, you can just lock the bike standalone near it. Although, last time I mentioned it here someone said they've had problems with the position detection, such that they kept being charged despite leaving it near a dock.
- thiagocsf 9y agoReturning the bikes to a dock is a benefit to everyone else in the city. A dock is always placed in a location agreed by the council. It’s guaranteed to not be in anyone’s way or a safety hazard. Maybe the dockless users in your city are more conscious. In mine, they will happily leave their rentals blocking the footpath. I constantly need to stop my child’s pram and move the bike out of the way. Dockless bikes are an appropriation of public spaces by private companies and need to stop.
- vkou 9y ago> Dockless bikes are an appropriation of public spaces by private companies and need to stop. I'll support this, as soon as we reclaim the millions of square feet of private space appropriated by curbside parking. This would free up enough space for everyone, and their extended families to park their bikes. If every block in my neighborhood has room for free parking for ~40 cars, then surely we could reclaim a few of those spots, for the sake of free parking for a greater number of dockless bikes.
- slivym 9y agoWhat you're describing is re-purposes car parking spaces as locations for docking stations.
- vkou 9y agoThe current situation with docking station is that they are ~10 blocks apart from each other. There should be a parking spot for bicycles on every single block. Just like we have 40 spots to park cars on every block.
- walshemj 9y agoThe roads normally belong to the state.
- vkou 9y agoI'm not talking about freeways - I'm talking about city streets.