Kade1301 wrote:"Dockless" means people can drop them anywhere?
Yes, in current practice [EDIT: See nine posts down for an update on this]. "Dockless" seems to be the concise term at the moment, in opposite reference to the designated dropoff points, or docks, such as in the French rental model you described. I believe the term "kiosk" is used in the Twin Cities.
The dockless corporate language uses "shared" instead of "dockless", but it confuses the issue because the docked model is called "shared", too. I'm not inclined to imitate such mealy-mouthed prancing when I mean to be clearly understood.
Here's a pic of one of our Nice Ride setups, and this one, as you can see, is very much in use (not exactly sure of the location; might be the Loring Park neighborhood):
Here's a pic of another setup waiting for use:
The kiosks are modular, and when set up for the season can be found in all sorts of locations, some in parklike environs such as in the pic immediately above, and some even right next to the street, if foot traffic and space for such placement reasonably allow. Due to the climate, we clear away the kiosks for the winter so as not to impede snow clearance, as well as minimize damage to the kiosks themselves. The second photo was taken in my own general neighborhood, and I'll be going to that very Lunds store later today for groceries. At seven blocks from home it's close enough that if I were just picking up a couple of items - which is what I usually do, having a very small fridge and minimal storage - a scooter would be perfect for the trip, and certainly better than hauling the car such a short distance for so little.
Please understand that I know all too well that some people don't have a choice in the matter of cars vs other modes. And even if they do, I am not feeling high and mighty about myself, nor is this topic intended as a scattershot rebuke to those not on the bandwagon; it's just that things have suddenly come together in such a way for me, and I'm sharing it. That's all.
Kade1301 wrote:I suppose I would actually prefer that [dockless model]...
And there you have it. It's that very same initial preference that is exactly why it's caught on so well. It's really enticing, and a stroke of genius in terms of creating a ready customer base. But if you think about it (and evidently few do - at least right away - which is also part of the genius) the model also creates the eyesore of unowned units left lying around all over the place. It's a huge part of the reason for the backlash.
Kade1301 wrote:...though I haven't yet understood where those scooters and bikes are picked up.
Anywhere, just as I said earlier. Anywhere. Rather than at designated kiosks, dockless companies simply line them up for use at any spot that works, but that's where any spatial organization ends. They have trucks driving around to pick these things up later wherever they find them, and again, I believe GPS is involved. It sounds really good on paper, but I've come to see it as surprisingly shortsighted - not only in terms of community impact, but also because the business model strikes me as highly unlikely to outlast the public and city council pressures it invites. One assumes the rental companies didn't account for this, but whatever the case, businesses don't operate in a vacuum. Some execs may have in fact already foreseen it, and are simply surfing the wave until they've gotten all the profits they can before moving on to the next scheme. It's been done before.
Here's one left behind (actually, two for you to muse over, if you look closely):
This illustrates my objections as a resident. I really don't want this sort of thing in my neighborhood, to say nothing of my city as a whole, and I'm already seeing it. Makes me feel like I'm living in a goddamned barn (no offence to my rural brethren; I'm sure real barns are in far better order, but I think you get my drift). No company with real ties to any community would operate this way; it's just a brilliant way to get rich, and that's all, with no concern for the consequences to the community's quality of life. An attitude like that makes an enemy out of me, because this is
my home we're talking about, and the rental companies should not be above being answerable to the communities they serve (that word is loosely put; rather than "serve", in this case "use" might be better). The sacred cow of "Business" is not enough justification for parasitism, and to be quite honest, parasitism is sure what it looks like to me. And now that bikes on the same dockless rental model are coming too, that will only compound the eyesore. Great. On a side note, it seems no coincidence to me that they happen to be of the same color as Nice Ride.
If you think it doesn't seem like such a big deal, wait 'til it happens to you. Because of this, I'm going to be feeling like a pariah when I'm out on my own scooter, and I resent that.
Maybe one day I'll stop holding back like this and tell you what I really think.
Kade1301 wrote:So to me it would make much more sense to own a bike/scooter and rent a car when necessary, at least as long as one lives in a city with reasonable public transport...
And that strategy is seeing a lot more use now than I've seen in the past, so you're in very good company.
Kade1301 wrote:(as I don't I won't get rid of my car just yet...)
A-
hah!
Kade1301 wrote:Regarding spare parts: With a bit of luck Cellot does not actually produce any of the electric/electronic (or even mechanical) parts and you can get them directly from the manufacturer, the name of which, with another bit of luck, would be written somewhere on the part. Because I'm doubtful whether a lot of standardization has happened yet across scooter brands... Besides there's probably so much happening in the development of them that your model might be hopelessly outdated when it starts to break down and you'll want to buy a new one anyway. Ride and see...
Thanks. Will definitely do.
"If you take music out of this world, you will have nothing but a ball of fire." - Balochi musician