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I live in a city with ubiquitous (non-E) shared bicycles (Shenzhen), and unfortunately maintenance does become your problem... You have to go from bike to bike
by janekm 9y ago
I live in a city with ubiquitous (non-E) shared bicycles (Shenzhen), and unfortunately maintenance does become your problem... You have to go from bike to bike performing basic maintenance tests (is the brake working? Is the chain non-rattly? Seat adjustable? Anything broken?) and still sometimes end up with a non-working bike that doesn't work quite right.
For the bike sharing company it's an even bigger problem (the two/three remaining companies employ an army of staff to keep moving the bikes to where they are needed and attempt some basic maintenance, literally a team on every street corner).
- yoz-y 9y agoAh, the getting on a public bike ritual. But I imagine that this is a problem that could be solved by more money, however I have no idea where the bike sharing company would get it except if they hike the prices.
- janekm 9y agoMobike in China are on about their 10th version of their bikes. The very latest one seems to be a massive improvement on their earlier ones so far, so it seems they are getting there. Most of their money has been coming from VCs so far...