Bike-share programs protected by high-quality GPS locks

One year in and bike sharing apps are transforming Chinese cities, but oversight and environmental impacts are a concern. Almost one hundred Chinese cities, from Beijing to Lhasa, now have bike-sharing schemes. The bikes, clad in various colours, have GPS trackers and can be unlocked simply by scanning a barcode on the frame with your phone. Some can even be reserved via a phone app. With bike sharing APP, cyclists will be able to reserve a bike from one of seven locations in person, via mobile app or online. The bikes can be used for recreation and convenient transportation. The seven docking stations are on a 3-mile loop and within or near popular downtown destinations.

 

According to a China Central Television report there are currently twenty bike-sharing schemes competing in Beijing, with almost one million bikes. Zhou Zhengyu, head of the city’s transportation commission, said at an event marking Beijing’s Bicycle Day in April that the city has 700,000 shared bikes. It is as yet unknown if this is too many for a population of 20 million, as there are no authoritative figures on how often bikes are used.

 

 

Nie Riming, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Finance and Law, thinks that the rise of shared bikes is in large part caused by failures of urban and transportation planning. “Government-led public transport can’t meet [people’s] needs, so shared bikes have become popular. The market is filling a gap, and the government should look at how to improve, rather than just worry about badly parked bikes or excessive numbers.” “There’s also a lack of standards for where bikes can be left, or any barriers to entry to the market, meaning a disorderly market,” said Liu Daizong. “Shared bikes have developed rapidly and the government is bound to need time to react and to research appropriate policies – but I’m sure the authorities have acquired experience through regulation of the ride-sharing sector, which will allow for more effective management of shared bikes.”

 

Also, In India, already 25- 30 per cent of daily trips are by walking & cycling  which needs to be preserved with better facilities for them on roads. Current cycling trends show that majority of cycling is done for transport by the poor. There is also a growing tribe of  very high end cyclists who do this for leisure and endurance exercise. Compared to other public transportation projects, cycle sharing systems are very inexpensive, fun and people friendly. Cycle sharing systems can be well be utilised or integrated as a feeder system which can provide first & last mile connectivity to  public transport systems like, BRTS & Metro. India has a thriving bicycle industry in existence which needs to be explored and encouraged to be part of city cycling revolution with proper incentives and friendly government policies.

 

Solution on bike security

 

A bike lock might not be the most exciting item to splash out on, but theft is not uncommon and a quality lock is an effective deterrent. Trying to scrimp on a bike lock is a very real form of false economy, and it’s often suggested that you should aim to spend 10 per cent of the value of your bike on a quality lock. In the past, bike locks have been a 'give and take' piece of kit – either secure and heavy, or lightweight and relatively easy to 'crack'. They also integrated poorly with many bikes, needing extra mounting brackets or to be carried in a backpack/pannier. Now we're seeing a trend in cycling-specific smart locks, ranging from alarms and tracking systems to keyless locks that are disarmed via a smartphone – and even a bike that is the lock. GPS Bike locks have a simple task of keeping your bike in the same place you left it. However, bike theft remains rampant worldwide – and once your bike is gone, it’s pretty hard to get back. In a word, If bike sharing can replace an urban transportation model based around the car, the entire world will benefit.

More details at jimilab.com .