The future of U.S. dockless bike-share—aka “DoBi”—isn’t looking so bright right now. DoBi technology lets customers use a smartphone app to locate and check out bikes scattered around the service area. Most companies use cycles that are secured only with a built-in wheel lock—which makes them easy to steal or vandalize. Last month a city official in Washington, D.C., reported that some companies in the District have lost about half of their fleets to theft and vandalism.
Representatives for LimeBike and Pace painted a relatively rosy picture. (Jump didn’t respond to questions.) “Despite the limited number of bikes we are allowed to operate in the pilot, we passed more than 3,000 rides at the end of July, which demonstrates the demand for DoBi exists,” said LimeBike’s Chicago manager, Jessie Lucci.
The maintenance reports suggest that vandalism has been relatively rare, perhaps thanks to the fact that most bikes are lock-to. That jibes with what Beverly-based bike advocate Anne Alt told me. “I’ve seen only a few damaged bikes,” she said, adding that it’s unusual to see poorly parked bikes blocking sidewalks, which has been an issue in other cities where wheel-lock-only cycles are common.
Northwest of there in Trumbull Park, several Pace bikes were locked to racks next to CTA Jeffery Jump express bus stops. Nathaniel Terrell, who was waiting for a ride, was skeptical, and didn’t seem to view the bikes as a handy commuting tool. “I don’t really see the usefulness unless you want to go out for a ride with your girl or whatever.”
