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For Better Or Worse, Limebike Is Coming To Folsom


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#1 Steve Heard

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Posted 02 May 2018 - 05:46 PM

lime-bike-382x287.jpg

 

LimeBike Bikeshare is coming to Folsom, and my guess is you're either going to love it or hate it.

 

What's a LimeBike? LimeBike is a dockless bike-sharing company based in San Mateo, and they have plans on bringing 200 bikes to Folsom and Rancho Cordova.

 

What's dockless bike-sharing?

 

Well, few years back someone came up with the idea of making short-term bike rentals available to consumers. The bikes would be parked at docks (bike racks) in strategic locations, and users would unlock and pay for pay rentals using phone apps.  When finished, the user would return the bike to the dock.

 

The idea was pretty successful, but people were limited in that they had to either return the bike to where they got them, or to another dock in one of the few locations where they were located. So, if there was no dock where you were heading, you had to dock it at the closest one, and walk or otherwise get to your true destination.

 

Along came 'dockless' bike sharing.

 

It's the same concept, in that you use a phone app to rent a bike, but the difference is, you can find them and drop them off anywhere in the city.

 

These became hugely popular, and the concept has spread around the world.  If you're in San Francisco, for example, say you took bart into town to see a Giants game. Rather than waking, taking public transit, taking a cab or a ride-share, you would use your app to find and unlock a bike, ride it to the ballpark and leave it outside.

 

Pretty soon, these bikes were being used by commuters, sports fans, partiers and tourists.

 

It's so convenient, and cheap, too.  Standard bikes generally rent for $1 per half hour, and the electric ones go for an initial $1, then ten cents per minute.

 

Jump was the first company to offer the service, and was bought out by Uber. Then, along came LimeBike, Motivate and others.

 

Pretty soon, there was no shortage of bikes to get you around the city.

 

Everyone seemed to love the idea of cheap, accessible transportation, helping people move around town while getting cars off the road.

 

There are issues, however.

 

The biggest complaint is the fact that people are leaving bikes all over the place; in the middle of sidewalks, bike lanes, driveways, in front of businesses, and in residential neighborhoods, where they can become tripping hazards and eyesores.

 

There is also the potential danger in that most riders don't carry helmets, and there is no training required, so inexperienced riders were soon zipping in and out of traffic and through crowded sidewalks. I don't have any stats on accidents, but you can google and find several reported fatalities.

 

City governments are logging complaints, and in some cases, confiscating bikes and issuing fines.  Some citizens are striking back by tossing bikes in dumpsters, chaining them up, or vandalizing them.

 

The bike-share companies are doing what they can to pick up abandoned bikes, and to keep their bikes in good repair, but they haven't figured out a way to get riders to do the right thing when finished, and we're not sure what the right thing is.

 

Now, we get to see first hand what bike-sharing can do for, or to, Folsom.  The 50 Corridor TMA (transportation management association) is teaming up with LimeBike to bring a 200 bike pilot program to Folsom and Rancho Cordova.

 

Will residents commute into town and ride home, leaving their bikes in front of their homes? Will we see bikes abandoned up and down East Bidwell? At shopping centers? At schools?

 

Time will tell, as Limebike is expected to launch here in the coming weeks.

 

By the way, the latest issue for cities is 'scooter sharing'. Just as with bikes, you'll be able to rent an electric scooter, take it to your destination, and leave it... anywhere.

 


Steve Heard

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#2 2 Aces

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Posted 02 May 2018 - 06:20 PM

I love good comedy. That's why I enjoy Liberals. They will devise things that fail in spectacular fashion, then they will *double down* on those things. And don't make me provide a list of failed Democrat policies and programs. We'd be here all night. :lol:

#3 Steve Heard

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Posted 02 May 2018 - 10:25 PM

I love good comedy. That's why I enjoy Liberals. They will devise things that fail in spectacular fashion, then they will *double down* on those things. And don't make me provide a list of failed Democrat policies and programs. We'd be here all night. :lol:

 

Here we go again. 

 

This has nothing to do with liberals. It was a concept conceived in China to solve a transportation issue and make money. 

 

It may succeed, or it may fail, but either way, it won't be because of anyone's politics.  

 

If you do want a political discussion, please go to the politics section. 


Steve Heard

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Owner - MyFolsom.com

916 718 9577 


#4 2 Aces

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Posted 03 May 2018 - 07:22 AM

Steve, can't wait to see you showing properties via your *LimeBike* to avoid all that China-like traffic in Folsom...

 

16370337_G.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale



#5 Steve Heard

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Posted 03 May 2018 - 08:57 AM

Steve, can't wait to see you showing properties via your *LimeBike* to avoid all that China-like traffic in Folsom...

 

16370337_G.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale

 

Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that? 


Steve Heard

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#6 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 03 May 2018 - 10:16 AM

I can see this working around our bike trails.


Knowing the past helps deciphering the future.

#7 Steve Heard

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Posted 04 May 2018 - 10:35 AM

I saw one of their bikes outside of city hall yesterday, but apparently, they've pulled out of the Folsom/Rancho Program. 

 

The 50 Corridor TMA is looking for a replacement company. 

 

I think Jump may be willing. 


Steve Heard

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#8 camay2327

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Posted 05 May 2018 - 12:51 PM

I hope they automatically STOP as STOP signs. The other bikes DON'T.


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#9 bdw

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Posted 09 May 2018 - 01:48 PM

I hope they automatically STOP as STOP signs. The other bikes DON'T.

 

Cars rarely come to a complete stop, either. And coming to a complete stop in a car doesn't even require you to get off your seat and put your foot on the ground...

 

Also, bikes are allowed to lane split and ride to the front of the intersection past slow or stopped cars, but I think a lot of people don't know this and perceive it as the cyclist cutting them off. But, once at the intersection, cyclists need to observe right of way (unless, of course, the driver with the right of way courteously surrenders it to the cyclist).

 

And that's my big concern with any program like this -- on the part of both the cyclist and the motorist, there's a lot of ignorance. Hopefully there will be some funds leftover for bicycle safety awareness and improvements. For example, I'd love to see the widening of select roads to help concentrate bike traffic and keep it off the bigger/faster roads. I'd also love to see the region install more of those CA DOT signs that indicate 3 feet clearance is required to pass a cyclist, and that bikes may use the full lane on roads too narrow to accommodate the 3 foot clearance. Anything we can do to make our roads safer and less congested...






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