Smartbike Expansion Pauses

GGW via Georgetown Metropolitan has an update on the SmartBike expansion that was to happen this summer.

Clear Channel is not a bike sharing company. They're an advertising company that runs a bike sharing program on the side. That means they're never going to really put a lot of effort into the program. They got their ad contract, and will do the minimum necessary to keep it. And, as we're seeing with Arlington, even if a jurisdiction wants to pay for stations, they won't be interested. Getting money in exchange for running bike stations doesn't enhance their core business, and good companies avoid having a lot of peripheral businesses that don't contribute to their central mission.

Meanwhile, DDOT has released results from a recent survey of users.  The Bike-Sharing Blog has it's analysis here. 

Most people (62%) use SmartBike less than once a week. 41% ride it to work. Only a few trips would have been done by car (plus more by taxi) - and it largely replaces walking and Metro trips. Only 23% of users always wear a helmet. The top places where users would like to see a new kiosk - in order:

Georgetown
Adams Morgan
Union Station
Columbia Heights
Takoma

When asked how to improve SmartBike, most people asked for more stations (and bike locks were heavily desired too).

And The City Fix has a SmartBike video

SmartBike DC from EMBARQ Network on Vimeo.

Comments

[Mark]

Clear Channel is also a radio monopoly--in addition to being an advertising company. A few years ago, DJs on Clear Channel stations was notorious for encouraging their listeners (who are in their cars) to commit violence against cyclists. Clear Channel sucks and I imagine that, being a corporation, the bike share program was borne out of Clear Channel's need to publicly atone for jackass DJs.

[Erica Schlaikjer]

Thanks for posting our video!

You might also want to read a new post by Clayton Lane from http://thecityfix.com/mobility-driven-companies-shaking-up-the-bikesharing-market/