Biking Around B'game

I finally saw the first LimeBike in use by someone other than a neighborhood kid goofing around on it with his buddies--not that there is anything wrong with that either, but it wasn't really the intent of the program.  Apparently B'game kids often do not have bikes, but they do have phones and apps to get a LimeBike.  The City announced the program a couple week ago

The City of Burlingame is excited to introduce a six month bike sharing pilot in Burlingame. The bike sharing program will be operated by LimeBike, a company headquartered in San Mateo with bike sharing programs nationwide.

The LimeBikes will be available around town. Rides will cost $1 every 30 minutes. To ride, riders need to download the app onto their smartphone, scan the bike number, strap on a helmet, ride, enjoy and park smart.

The secret code "City of Trees" will get you five free rides in the app.  Oddly enough, the rent-a-bikes in San Mateo are blue and have set places to be parked using a stanchion.  The City email about our program seems to predict concern about the Limebikes being parked willy-nilly on sidewalks and such.  I'll be interested to see what kind of demand there is here since the one I see on 25th Ave. in San Mateo seldom moves.  Here's one outside the B'way post office.

March 18th addition:  Lori's post this morning reminded me of how many people are complaining about the "LitterBikes" all over the place.  Then I was in downtown San Mateo and saw a LitterBike on the corner....of San Mateo.  That is interesting because San Mateo uses the Blue bikes that have fixed stations to return to.  I have to wonder how San Mateans feel about our limey showing up on their streets?  Here is is

Comments

[Laura]

Was walking along the Bay and one of the lime bikes at Kincaids, had a lime bike helmet in the basket. That was the first helmet I had seen and was pleasantly surprised.

[Account Deleted]

FYI, here's additional interesting perspective on the current dockless bike phenomenon:

https://www.bikebiz.com/news/data-mining-is-why-billions-are-being-pumped-into-dockless-bikes

[Lori]

Has anyone in the Burlingame City Hall read any of the complaints about LimeBike? I think not. As a resident of Burlingame, I am so annoyed and disgusted with the LimeBike program, which was forced on us. Bikes are being dumped all over town, especially in front of private residences and sidewalks. Why is it that the residents have to call LimeBike to have them removed? We didn't approve this. Anyone with complaints, please, please send an email to bikeshare@burlingame.org. Let your voices be heard and let send LimeBike packing.

[Joe]

Thank you, Lori. You are far from being alone in your sentiment. I have just updated the original post to include a photo of a LimeBike sitting on a very busy corner in downtown San Mateo. Anyone care to bet that SM feels as Lori does about random bikes sitting in the busy pedestrian right of way for days on end?

[Lori]

Residents of Burlingame unite and file complaints against LimeBikes. Do not let these bikes and scooters take over our neighborhoods.

558-7271 or email bikeshare@burlingame.org

558-7204 City Attorney

[resident]

We better get in front of these limebikes because scooters are right behind them like in the city. A guy in the chronicle asks this question today Dump the scooters

Regarding “Complaints roll in over scooter crush” (April 10): If the scooters are left on sidewalks of San Francisco (especially in unsafe ways), doesn’t that make them trash? Perhaps it is our civic duty to help keep city sidewalks clean by dumping abandoned scooters into the nearest trash can.

Herbert Lin, San Francisco

[Peter Garrison]

This means we are never going to have flying cars. It’s a good idea but people mess it up.

[Joe]

Strangely enough I happened to pick up the Staff Report on bicycle regulation at the City Council meeting where Charles Voltz was honored. They were handouts and I thought "maybe this is where the LimeBike crackdown will originate". Mostly it updates an 80 year old ordinance requiring a license to have a bike in town...... BUT seven pages in, section 13.52.150 Parking in racks--Impounding bicycles lying on sidewalks sounds promising:

"All bicycles found lying on the sidewalk may be taken up and impounded by the police department, from whence they may be recovered by proving property and obtaining and order from the chief of police or his or her designee."

Not sure we want to go that far with Limmies, but it does lay out the premise that they can't just be left anywhere.

[Laura]

Read an article in a S.F. paper yesterday about the scooters. S.F. getting tons of complaints about them blocking sidewalks and have been collecting them if the are left on sidewalk. It costs companies like Lime Bikes something like $100 to get it back. Sure hope our City listens to the problems others are having and does not allow the scooters to join the liter bikes.

[Ian]

The angst about these bikes is pretty amusing - we're perfectly fine with hundreds of parked cars lining every street in Burlingame, but a few dozen bicycles in town and they're "taking over our neighborhoods".

Cycling around town is easy, healthy, cheap and clean - quit whining about the bikes and start pedaling one.

[Laura]

If the bikes Ian were parked in a stall or parking lot like cars, it wouldn't be a problem. If they had docking stations around town, not a problem. These bikes are being dumped across sidewalks, in bushes on pathways and everywhere in between. I've watched seniors out for a walk around the block, have difficulty navigating around them as they are quite heavy to move. Mothers with strollers, same issue. Kids on a tricycle, same issue. Perhaps they aren't being dumped in your neighborhood but for those of us they are, it's a problem.

[Jennifer]

'Agree with Laura. Maybe further away from the center they aren't left everywhere, but many close-in neighborhoods are being affected. Yesterday I attempted to move two of them "out of the way" and they are quite heavy.

Much to my surprise, a loud electronic voice of some sort, that sounded very much like the old 'Lost in Space' robot voice screaming "Will Robinson!", warned me not to move the bike without unlocking it, and that the Police were going to be alerted.

I think it's great that people are biking more and it helps drivers generally develop more caution and awareness, but I think there are a number of aspects with this company (and probably similar companies) that are not well thought out. There should be some basic verbiage (big enough for people to see) on the bike saying they should never obstruct the sidewalks, etc.,

I really do feel sorry for older or otherwise handicapped people or even those with strollers who must have to maneuver around them.

[BMW]

The concept is good, but the rollout of the program seemed rushed and not well-thought out.

The good news, to some, is that it's a 6 month pilot that started after Christmas last year. So we're a little past half-way, with the pilot theoretically ending in June. Here stolen from a ND thread are some findings:

http://burlingameca.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=6bfe0d49-4a1a-480d-b8b0-68787f32a476.pdf

Also, our neighbor to the south San Mateo just signed up for their own pilot. 12 months, 300 bikes.

[Joe]

From today's City e-newsletter:

The City of Burlingame Police Department is encouraging motorists and bicyclists to reevaluate their safety practices and take extra precautions when sharing roads, and around designated bike pathways.

This timely reminder happens to coincide with Burlingame City Council's decision, on Monday, to extend the City's LimeBike pilot program another six months. LimeBike users took 4,073 rides on LimeBikes in Burlingame alone last month. With summer vacation for students around the corner, bike ridership is expected to increase.

A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash. Cyclists who wear a helmet reduce their risk of head injury by an estimated 60% and brain injury by 58%. Helmets are required by law for riders under the age of 18.

[Peter Garrison]

Just rode Primrose to Channing to the Rec. Ctr.
$2.50 for less than 10 minutes.