The bikesharing thread - Page 6

fflint · #**101** Posted **Aug 30, 2013, 11:30 PM**

Took the streetcar to the movies last night and on both trips, BABS was the topic of public conversation for several people. Up front, the operator was discussing bikeshare with several passengers--one lady was giving the systems in London and Paris glowing reviews and was excited to see them come to SF. A couple from Portland noticed my partner and I were discussing where the stations were, etc., and sparked up a conversation with us. They had actually taken a quick ride on BABS from the Caltrain station to their destination earlier in the day and loved having the option.

The only reason I haven't bought a membership is that I just ride my own bike, but in the future I can see buying in.

easy as pie · #**102** Posted **Aug 31, 2013, 12:11 AM**

my gf and i are both planning to sign up for babs this weekend, just to support them in hope that they expand. as it is, i can't see myself using it to get anywhere because it's so limited.

Nouvellecosse · #**103** Posted **Aug 31, 2013, 3:23 AM**

I agree orange would have been better.

fflint · #**104** Posted **Aug 31, 2013, 5:20 AM**

There were several BABS bikes in this evening's Critical Mass--it was hysterical watching them check in and out again at the pods that lined the course of the ride!

Kngkyle · #**105** Posted **Sep 1, 2013, 10:14 PM**

Station map of the Chicago system. Blue = operating, Yellow = coming soon.

Has real-time status of each station with number of bikes/open spots.

The bikes are kinda ugly though.. in my opinion.

I see them alllll over the lakefront path now though.

easy as pie · #**106** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 6:24 AM**

thought i'd just toss this in here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/ny...tle-speed.html

In Bloomberg’s City of Bike Lanes, Data Show, Cabs Gain a Little Speed

...according to the New York City Transportation Department, a lengthy campaign to reallocate street space for cyclists and pedestrians has produced a curious result: If anything, officials said, cars are moving more quickly in the city’s most congested areas.

Citing GPS data from the city’s yellow cabs, the Bloomberg administration said that average traffic speeds in Manhattan’s primary central business district, south of 60th Street, had increased nearly 7 percent since 2008.
...

ShooFlyPie · #**107** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 4:08 PM**

We can finally add Pittsburgh to catch up. Now if we can only calm angry yinzers in pick up trucks and their vendetta against fit people on bikes.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...n-2014-678848/

202_Cyclist · #**108** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 4:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShooFlyPie

We can finally add Pittsburgh to catch up. Now if we can only calm angry yinzers in pick up trucks and their vendetta against fit people on bikes.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...n-2014-678848/

Another city begrimed...

Eightball · #**109** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 7:42 PM**

CaBi hits 5 million total rides, and has the busiest week on record:

http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/news...Hits-5-Million

Be interesting to see how much overall system usage jumps once the MoCo stations are added (50 stations/500 bikes - which is bigger than many other cities total network).

Prahaboheme · #**110** Posted **Sep 6, 2013, 8:51 PM**

Downtown Orlando to setup bikeshare - 16 stations initially:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...0,923304.story

the urban politician · #**111** Posted **Sep 6, 2013, 10:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

The bikes are kinda ugly though.. in my opinion.

^ I don't know, I kind of like the color.

Actually, if I were an evil emperor who ruled Chicago, I would also make all of the taxicabs this same color

mthd · #**112** Posted **Sep 7, 2013, 3:33 AM**

that color is sort of OK.

the bay area bike share bikes are a hideously ugly shade of pale greenish. it's a blight upon the city.

Eightball · #**113** Posted **Sep 7, 2013, 10:54 AM**

Glad Orlando is starting a system, but 16 stations is a joke.

And I like the Divvy color. Something different.

LouisVanDerWright · #**114** Posted **Sep 7, 2013, 1:31 PM**

I love love love the divvy color. What more appropriate color could there be other than a city's civic colors? There is a concerted effort in city hall to develop a unified city brand for Chicago and what better way than using the colors of our far above average city flag? Hell, I would like to see them repaint all the CTA buses with a similar scheme.

Kngkyle · #**115** Posted **Sep 7, 2013, 2:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ I don't know, I kind of like the color.

Actually, if I were an evil emperor who ruled Chicago, I would also make all of the taxicabs this same color

It's not really the color that is the problem, it's the design. I just need to get used to these strange looking bikes I suppose.

Eightball · #**116** Posted **Sep 7, 2013, 2:56 PM**

What's the daily usage of Divvy now? From a half ass search it seems to be approx 4.5k?

Prahaboheme · #**117** Posted **Sep 7, 2013, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eightball

Glad Orlando is starting a system, but 16 stations is a joke.

Re: Orlando
16 stations is not much, but it is a small surface area where they plan to place them, initially. I consider this a positive development.

Eightball · #**118** Posted **Sep 18, 2013, 1:02 PM**

^^a smaller geographic area does help. Any plans for immediate expansion?

Separately, has anybody ridden one of those BABS bikes up a SF hill yet? The smaller hills here in DC can be a challenge on the CABI bikes.

LouisVanDerWright · #**119** Posted **Sep 18, 2013, 1:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eightball

What's the daily usage of Divvy now? From a half ass search it seems to be approx 4.5k?

A Tribune article a while back said it is averaging 11,000 miles per day with some weekend days as high as 25,000 miles per day. That's not bad for a system that is 50% rolled out and only been around for 2 months.

emathias · #**120** Posted **Sep 18, 2013, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eightball

^^a smaller geographic area does help. Any plans for immediate expansion?

Separately, has anybody ridden one of those BABS bikes up a SF hill yet? The smaller hills here in DC can be a challenge on the CABI bikes.

The Chicago bikes have three gears, but I'm not sure where or why in Chicago anyone would ever use the 1st gear - we have no hills beyond inclines to get over the river or sometimes train tracks and very gentle grades as you move further from the Lake. I actually wish they swapped the first gear for a higher third gear here in Flatsville.

EDIT:

Re: Ridership
As of last Friday:
"Wiedel reported that over 7,700 annual members and numerous 24-hour pass users have made almost 325,000 trips and pedaled almost 950,000 miles since June 28."
From here