5 ms·

You mean... like Getaround and Zipcar already do? The streets are filled with companies using public spaces: Fedex deliveries blocking the road, sidewalk signs

You mean... like Getaround and Zipcar already do? The streets are filled with companies using public spaces: Fedex deliveries blocking the road, sidewalk signs for bars, Getaround rentals, food carts, mailboxes, ATMs, parking meters, Scoot scooters, taxi lines, Lyft/Ubers, Redbox DVD rentals, annoying Greenpeace petition people, construction, billboards, etc. I don't think it's a cost-saving measure for scooter/bike companies, but rather convenience for users. I wouldn't use scooters if I had to walk 4 blocks to a "designated pickup zone". Yes, these scooters/bikes are making money. But they also really improve cities, by cutting down on traffic congestion and car emissions. As long as they're regulated via permits (meaning the government makes a bit of money to pay for maintenance), they should be allowed... and if people dislike them, they'll go out of business, and it'll solve itself.

terenig 9y ago
Yep! And even rental car companies do take advantage of public parking: when cars are actually in use, customers are free to park them in any public parking spot.
extra88 9y ago
Zipcar pays for the parking spots they use. Obviously, while they’re being rented the drivers may use public spots the same as car owners do.
- gkoberger 9y ago
  And Bird is paying (or offering to, at least) $1/scooter/day to SF. That's $365/scooter/year. I've heard Zipcar pays SF $1000-ish/year, so inch-for-inch it's certainly a good deal.
  - extra88 9y ago
    In the greater Boston area, I think I've only seen Zipcar spots on private property (though I'm not sure what the ownership is of the MBTA parking spaces) and I would expect the rate to be somewhat negotiable, based on supply & demand for the neighborhood.
    - kingbirdy 9y ago
      Same in Philadelphia
      - jarvuschris 9y ago
        There are some zipcar spots on streets in Philly
        mentalpiracy 9y ago
        Enterprise has a few streetside too. Almost assuredly, these companies pay Philly for the rights to that those marked spots.
    - jonknee 9y ago
      There are car sharing services in Seattle that operate much like the scooters and bikes (park them in any city space, pay just for when you use, etc). The city charges a flat rate per car per month. Like dockless bike share it ends up being way more useful.
      - badwolf 9y ago
        I love Car2Go here in Austin. They pay the city some flatrate per year, and so car2go can park anywhere in public street parking without paying meters.
jjoske 9y ago
Well where I live (Melbourne, Aus) what a assume are the equivalent to Zipcar actually buy/rent car spaces to leave for their cars.
dwighttk 9y ago
>Yes, these scooters/bikes are making money. Are they? Are any of the companies public? It seems like a burn through cash to get a user base sort of thing but maybe these companies are older and more established than it seems to me.
- F_r_k 9y ago
  Are you required to be public in order to make money ?
  - d_k_f 9y ago
    No, but it would make it possible to actually check whether they do or not, which I guess is why parent is asking.
    - dwighttk 9y ago
      yeah, just gives you numbers you can look at vs. just guessing.
bunderbunder 9y ago
Fedex deliveries blocking the road for a short time are generally considered preferable to removing a whack of on-street parking from every block in order to have an excess of loading zones, or not being able to have deliveries at all. sidewalk signs for bars are regulated, at least in my city. They have to leave (IIRC) 6' of clearance on the sidewalk so they don't obstruct pedestrian traffic. Whether those rules are being followed is perhaps another issue, but I haven't generally found them to be a nuisance. Getaround rentals are private cars that you rent from the owner. If the city requires a fee to be paid for overnight on-street parking, that fee will be paid by the owner. If the street is meter parking, that fee will be paid by whoever is using the car. food carts typically pay the city a fee in exchange for use of public space. mailboxes are either owned by the government or installed on private property. ATMs are installed on private property. parking meters are government property. Scoot scooters (don't know what those are) taxi lines are a government designated thing. Note that most cities that have them also make money from taxi licensing. Lyft/Ubers are a minor menace, I agree with you on that one. Redbox DVD rentals are installed on private property. annoying Greenpeace petition people are required to get permits, at least in my city. construction also requires permits. billboards are installed on private property. Long story short, I think you're being hyperbolic here.
- s0rce 9y ago
  "Fedex deliveries blocking the road" Preferable to cars, maybe, since it frees up parking, however, around here they simply park in the bike lane. I go by a UPS store daily and there are often 1-2 trucks both parked in the bike lane.
  - icantdrive55 9y ago
    I kinda get the need for commercial drivers to not obey laws most of us are scared of. They are being overworked because of us, and our convient buying patterns. That said, I would love to see fees/fines for mini code violations tied to a person's/company's Income. I get a $50 parking ticket. Why--because I'm poor. (My biggest fear is getting a ticket. These high priced tickets are a real concern for people like myself.) FedEx would get a $10,000 ticket. I would do like to see fees/fines tied to income. And "we don't have the technology" is no an excuse anymore.
Angostura 9y ago
Certainly, where I live in London, Zipcar has arranged with the council to have special bays marked, reserved for them. The council like car-sharing, so are happy - but it is done in a manageable way.
- onion2k 9y ago
  I would how risky that is for Zipcar. What incentive would there be for the council to say no to a competitor offering more money for the spaces?
  - gcb0 9y ago
    uk gov might not work like a greed corporation as its usa counterparts. usually when a deal is stabilished with one company, others can jump in for the same price/share. the worst that would happen for zip car is to have to share the spaces.
- obel1x 9y ago
  There is also Zipcar Flex in London. You can park the cars in on-street parking, even paid or residents bays. But they have only agreed it with some councils so far. Map: https://www.zipcar.co.uk/takethebluepin#zipzone-map https://www.zipcar.co.uk/takethebluepin#zipzone-map
erdojo 9y ago
Yet another clueless astroturfer who alters the facts to fit your own narrative. Go back to your PR boss and tell them we're not buying your "messaging".

terenig 9y ago

Yep! And even rental car companies do take advantage of public parking: when cars are actually in use, customers are free to park them in any public parking spot.

extra88 9y ago

Zipcar pays for the parking spots they use. Obviously, while they’re being rented the drivers may use public spots the same as car owners do.

gkoberger 9y ago
And Bird is paying (or offering to, at least) $1/scooter/day to SF. That's $365/scooter/year. I've heard Zipcar pays SF $1000-ish/year, so inch-for-inch it's certainly a good deal.
- extra88 9y ago
  In the greater Boston area, I think I've only seen Zipcar spots on private property (though I'm not sure what the ownership is of the MBTA parking spaces) and I would expect the rate to be somewhat negotiable, based on supply & demand for the neighborhood.
  - kingbirdy 9y ago
    Same in Philadelphia
    - jarvuschris 9y ago
      There are some zipcar spots on streets in Philly
      - mentalpiracy 9y ago
        Enterprise has a few streetside too. Almost assuredly, these companies pay Philly for the rights to that those marked spots.
  - jonknee 9y ago
    There are car sharing services in Seattle that operate much like the scooters and bikes (park them in any city space, pay just for when you use, etc). The city charges a flat rate per car per month. Like dockless bike share it ends up being way more useful.
    - badwolf 9y ago
      I love Car2Go here in Austin. They pay the city some flatrate per year, and so car2go can park anywhere in public street parking without paying meters.

jjoske 9y ago

Well where I live (Melbourne, Aus) what a assume are the equivalent to Zipcar actually buy/rent car spaces to leave for their cars.

dwighttk 9y ago

>Yes, these scooters/bikes are making money. Are they? Are any of the companies public? It seems like a burn through cash to get a user base sort of thing but maybe these companies are older and more established than it seems to me.

F_r_k 9y ago
Are you required to be public in order to make money ?
- d_k_f 9y ago
  No, but it would make it possible to actually check whether they do or not, which I guess is why parent is asking.
  - dwighttk 9y ago
    yeah, just gives you numbers you can look at vs. just guessing.

bunderbunder 9y ago

Fedex deliveries blocking the road for a short time are generally considered preferable to removing a whack of on-street parking from every block in order to have an excess of loading zones, or not being able to have deliveries at all. sidewalk signs for bars are regulated, at least in my city. They have to leave (IIRC) 6' of clearance on the sidewalk so they don't obstruct pedestrian traffic. Whether those rules are being followed is perhaps another issue, but I haven't generally found them to be a nuisance. Getaround rentals are private cars that you rent from the owner. If the city requires a fee to be paid for overnight on-street parking, that fee will be paid by the owner. If the street is meter parking, that fee will be paid by whoever is using the car. food carts typically pay the city a fee in exchange for use of public space. mailboxes are either owned by the government or installed on private property. ATMs are installed on private property. parking meters are government property. Scoot scooters (don't know what those are) taxi lines are a government designated thing. Note that most cities that have them also make money from taxi licensing. Lyft/Ubers are a minor menace, I agree with you on that one. Redbox DVD rentals are installed on private property. annoying Greenpeace petition people are required to get permits, at least in my city. construction also requires permits. billboards are installed on private property. Long story short, I think you're being hyperbolic here.

s0rce 9y ago
"Fedex deliveries blocking the road" Preferable to cars, maybe, since it frees up parking, however, around here they simply park in the bike lane. I go by a UPS store daily and there are often 1-2 trucks both parked in the bike lane.
- icantdrive55 9y ago
  I kinda get the need for commercial drivers to not obey laws most of us are scared of. They are being overworked because of us, and our convient buying patterns. That said, I would love to see fees/fines for mini code violations tied to a person's/company's Income. I get a $50 parking ticket. Why--because I'm poor. (My biggest fear is getting a ticket. These high priced tickets are a real concern for people like myself.) FedEx would get a $10,000 ticket. I would do like to see fees/fines tied to income. And "we don't have the technology" is no an excuse anymore.

Angostura 9y ago

Certainly, where I live in London, Zipcar has arranged with the council to have special bays marked, reserved for them. The council like car-sharing, so are happy - but it is done in a manageable way.

onion2k 9y ago
I would how risky that is for Zipcar. What incentive would there be for the council to say no to a competitor offering more money for the spaces?
- gcb0 9y ago
  uk gov might not work like a greed corporation as its usa counterparts. usually when a deal is stabilished with one company, others can jump in for the same price/share. the worst that would happen for zip car is to have to share the spaces.
obel1x 9y ago
There is also Zipcar Flex in London. You can park the cars in on-street parking, even paid or residents bays. But they have only agreed it with some councils so far. Map: https://www.zipcar.co.uk/takethebluepin#zipzone-map https://www.zipcar.co.uk/takethebluepin#zipzone-map

erdojo 9y ago

Yet another clueless astroturfer who alters the facts to fit your own narrative. Go back to your PR boss and tell them we're not buying your "messaging".