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And why is there a bad press? Due to the high amount of rotten people out there. They rather destroy every single little idea of saving the environment, than to stop driving their Sport Utility Vehicle in a City which is already suffering under the burden of too many cars and a too less efficient road network.
I'd bet that the far majority of arseholes that dump the bikes in the river, ocean or other places aren't doing it because they don't like the environment and actively want to hurt it. They are doing it because they are arseholes.
Occam's Razor.
Agreed and it shames our city with these rotten people. The system works in some countries (some Asian cities got it right, Japan is doing wonders). However a few cities had companies go bust within the first few months due to theft and vandalism (China and Paris are examples. China however have so many different companies doing bike-share). Most use a similar mounting system similar to Melbourne Bike Share (with RACV) which is doing better.
Yup.
I don't think it's bad press. I was driving around and seen random bikes around the area and that made me curious to find out what they are about. So now I found out about a company I never heard of before. I think it's genius marketing place bikes in obscure places where people can clearly see them.
Maybe even get the company some free air time on the news?
Any press is good press.
As long as you are not a celebrity or politician.
Unless you're Trump, that is…
yeah and doesnt the app always track your location?
alot of people leaving reviews on the app store arent happy about that.
people just want to trash them, kinda funny but stupid at the same time.
The iOS app doesn't. It can be set to track only while using the app. You could even turn it off and still use the app successfully.
I've used them a few times. They really aren't very good bikes at all, it felt like the brakes were on even though they weren't. The Melbourne bikes are marginally better and have 3 speed.
i found the bike heavy and a bit too small , i’m 183 cm tall.
that said in my neighbour hood people have broken the locks open on many bikes so now they truely are bike sharing , no need to join and pay just ride and leave for next person.
handy for drunk hipsters who need a ride home. welcome to st kilda.
Love it - wish the councils had this idea or at least supported it, the model will eventually make a profit and they could have introduced regs banning competitors.
Little bit annoyed we get charged double singapore even though their dollar is around .95 of ours and the average wage is around 60,000 but I guess that cost incorporates the increased likelihood of bike destruction and paying off council fines.
As is councils can afford to get angry against bikes but they can’t be bothered addressing issues like air bnb which are sucking out mid-long term rental stock and already against many of their regs (so they have powers to enforce - but meh).
Not really about costs, more about number of competitors and what they charge. Used them in Amsterdam and is half a Euro (~$.80AUD) per 30 minutes. They also charged in 15 minute blocks whereas Australia charges in 30. Similar competitor was 1 Euro for 30m.
i'm not sure the average wage is really comparable, they've got huge inequality, they've got a lot of very poor, and a lot of very rich.
The cost of wages for unskilled labour is Singapore is nothing compared to Austarlia - that's the important comparison.
That's really nasty of you.
Oh, then let me rephrase that.
I think it's outrageous the way some people are dumping these bikes in rivers!
I'm sure you can get couple of dollars for selling truck load of them to scrap metal.
Too soon man, too soon
Username checks out
I hate how people are slamming O-bikes. It's such a damn good service. People just need to try it out. Works in so many places all around the world.
Average Joe and too-cool-to-ride-a-bike Gordon will never understand the benefit.
it’s actually expensive if you ride regularly, better off buying an aluminium framed bike that fits
I tried it out. Every bike had problems. They don't respond to my reports, have not applied voucher credits, and will not refund my deposit.
Why won't they refund your deposit? Have you closed the account?
Account is 98c negative, but they want a $10 minimum payment. If I can get them to reverse the charge for the broken bike, it might be possible to refund.
Note voucher codes were loaded into app, but not honoured. They whole thing looks doomed. Just a way for the promoters to get rich from investor funds without ever making a profit. The Chinese are learning modern capitalism well.
Same. They are pretty awful bikes but good if you need to do a short one way trip. These issues aren't just in Australia. I used it in Europe and some were broken, missing, couldn't lock etc.
Good news!
Found the contact number - it is a mobile, but he answered and credited my account. All fixed.
Vouchers apparently worked only in Melbourne, not Sydney.
ReddyGo has better bikes. 3 speed and lighter, all the bikes I've used had helmets as well.
Great concept, bad implementation and highly priced, the big killer is that it's $2 just to get on one. For $10 more than their despoit, I bought my own bike.
Yeah… slamming them into rivers etc…
Yeah, not much slamming the vandels, those ppl abusing the service or the bikes should be fined and publicized on facebook, where are you Doryle Councul ?
I was all in support of dockless bike share until I did a Google image search for "bike share China"
Are you now against it?
Good idea but stupid people leave them everywhere.
it's not people who left them everywhere, its the company. I saw them last month dropped a couple of them near where I live.
That's their business model. As long as locked up, people can leave them wherever convenient. No matter that it's public property being used to store private property for commercial reasons.
Imagine if Hertz or Budget car rental could just park all their spare cars overnight on public streets! The public would hate it, and councils wouldn't permit it - but here the companies just do what they want without council agreement. And that's why councils don't like them; it becomes their problem but they have no say.
What's stopping them from doing that?
I always assumed they don't because it makes no sense commercially for them to do so, not because it's somehow illegal for them to park their cars in public parking spaces?
Does it require a deposit or CC?
$9.90 deposit with student card
Oh man wish I knew that! Ive got a student card but paid the $69 deposit anyways…
how?
On the smartphone app, tap on your picture or go to profile to verify your student card
Err, why ? All you need is a $1 screwdriver to remove the lock and you can ride for free as much as you want. You also get free 18650, tiny solar panel and some useless electronics as a bonus to cover costs of a screwdriver. If you get enough of those solar panels you can stick them on your roof and use 18650s to build PowerWall.
I'd say we definitely need more of these bikes.
What a dodgy council. Seems as they didnt receive any kickbacks.
I totally agree with the council and I hope other councils do the same. Its ugly to see them on the sidewalk laying around, people are walking there with kids and some have prams. Not all the sidewalk wide enough to put these bikes on them. I like the idea, but not like this disgusting way.
QLD it is called CityCycle, you have to lock it into a bicycle station when you finish. Only real issue is lack of stations, lots of unused stations in city, fewer outside the city where they are needed.
It's called a footpath. Straya.
Sidewalk? You must be fresh
What a dodgy council.
Seems as they didnt receive any kickbacks.
Just read what you wrote.
Hmmm my local. I have seen a few around here but i dont think its much of a problem. Maroubra beach i have not seen any at all yet maybe they are being dumped at Coogee people ride them from Randwick downhill lol.
I support bike shares in principle, but they are physical and visual garbage in Coogee/Randwick, the council is right to regulate where they can be left. Since when can a company leave its merchandise wherever it wants in public areas, I can't name another service that is similar?
Yes skip bins! Bunnings and other companies do it always with the skips that are on wheels and no one complians?
Why are a few bikes any issues?
Pretty sure you need council permits for skip bins. These yellow bikes are left everywhere in our area, we are not talking about just a few.
@lime111: The portable ones would need rego I'd be guessing because they can be towed. Normal skip no council permit is needed at least under a certain sized. I've had a few at my house.
Bunnings literally had 5 skips parked on my street.
Easy to find here in Melbourne, just head to the Yarra!
It's only Windows Phone users who are throwing them in the river. It's not as if we can ride them!
Thought they'd save this deal for ANZAC day… ;)
Never seen one in Brisbane, sure they have them here ?
Yeah never seen them in Brisbane. I don't believe Gold Coast has them either..but i could be wrong.
Did you check under the Sundale bridge? All jokes aside, I haven't seen them either. And I find there's not a lot of bike friendly places to park around Southport. The few places are always chockas.
Came here to say that - I live in Surfers, haven't seen any of these things in trees, in the river, etc. I doubt their existence in our area at this time until I confirm otherwise.
Just came back from Shanghai. This concept is pretty popular there but then again, they dont have to wear helmets.
Visual pollution supported by a corporation
Nah it won't work people will steal the bikes, some of the companies in China doing this have gone bust because of theft and Australia is about 50% china.
Unlike in China, there are no parts on the bike worth stealing here, except for the helmets. And even they don't have resale value.
It would be interesting to know in which places they get stolen anyway.
Probably places like cabramatta and other high crime areas.
I have heard peoples motorbikes arn't even safe, people just drive up in a van and move the motorbike even if it is wheel locked and take it away.
18650 and solar panel, worth at least $3
I don't think many would want to steal a bike that isn't electric and is completely covered in obvious branding and colours. In China their majority electric bikes so that's why imo people would steal in China and not Aus
Jueezbuss, heh that is bad. These sharing economies would be better in small communities, in a little town of 100 people. I have always thought it was stupid everyone in a street has a lawnmower, chainsaw etc, if everyone in a street came to an agreement only one person would need own one of these items and look after and maintain it, the other person does the same with the blower and all the equipment is stored in a communal shed at someones property which they are compensated for. I do like sharing and working cooperatively but it doesn't work on a large scale, you shouldn't need an app, just a booking sheet which everyone can see saying the time you will be using it.
But then how do you get the investors to drop $50M into your initiative so you can live the highlife and then bankrupt the thing? That is the whole point of these bike share companies after all.
sharing economies
It's called renting.
"terms and conditions apply : in order to eligible for free ride, melbourne customers must not throw bike into yarra river"
They need to raise their game to control dumping.
Free pick up from the bottom of the Yarra??
Ditto with the 30 min minimum charging step, steep desposit asking price and high hourly rate. ($4 an hour) I checked the other countries and obike only charge the others in 15 mins blocks and it's less than AUD$1 per half hour at the most. At a minimum cost of $2, no wonder they aren't being used. I work in the city (Spencer St) and have only ever see one person on one who looked like he was struggling.
The $70 deposit entry is too high, then minimum access time and charge is very high so people don't use them, they get "abandoned" vandal syndrome. If you could hire one for $4 for half a day or $2 an hour in 15 min charging steps, they'd actually get some use but they got greedy.
yes actually very expensive if you ride regularly and very heavy bike due to steel frame and no gears.
also the deposit seems a bit high unless you will be using a lot and if you will be using a lot then might as well buy your own bike.
The bikes are so cheap to manufacture that these companies couldn't care less about a few hundred being tossed in the harbour every month, and therein lies the problem with this business model and "saving the environment".
Referral codes are not working for me
Try another one, or just copy the code from the link in to the app. Some people have updated their OzB referral incorrectly.
Please let us know the URL (report this comment with link). I've removed 2 links out of 89 which had an incorrect number.
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Really trying to win back peoples support after all the bad press