I noticed that there was N+1 bikes at Tumbles at Portobello an hour ago - the bike on the far end wasn't docked and was just free-standing.
Do the bikes need to be properly docked, or can they be left like that?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme
(1600 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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It does, though I only noticed from this prompt
@wingpig Thanks. That's good to know.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Do the bikes need to be properly docked, or can they be left like that?
For now, they need docked. If the lights are on and flashing, the bike is hired to someone.
There is a technical capability (mentioned up thread) to allow over-filling a dock via the wheel lock, but it won't be used for a couple of months yet.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Portobello is by the sea isn't it? Gravity in effect...
Posted 6 years ago # -
I overtook a couple of people on Just Eat cycles heading into town on the towpath just over an hour ago. Now I'm in the McCowan's pub at Fountainbridge and there are two Just Eat cycles (not sure if they're the same ones) propped against the window flashing away.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Is there anyway to see the map without first buying a subscription? It would be good to be able to plan a single journey without paying if no bike will be available.
I'm not in the city centre without offspring often, but when I am I hope to make use of the bikes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
acsimpson - Just Eat Cycles have an official webpage with a map, and I believe that this does include free spaces. I've just tried googling for it but can't find it. It is linked somewhere earlier in this thread.
I also like http://bikes.oobrien.com/edinburgh/#zoom=12&lon=-3.1631&lat=55.9498 which colour codes the depots based on available spaces and bikes. Also worth zooming out to see many of the worlds bike hire schemes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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Thanks. I'll bookmark that for future use.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Skelf's Facebook has a hire bike on the track. Seeing as the bike knows where it is and who has hired it I wasn't going to try that, in case it is discovered and deemed an inappropriate use.
Posted 6 years ago # -
One lone bike in the rack at the COmmie Pool last night.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The last few of times I've looked at the map, the Victoria Quay dock in Leith is full. Gov't workers scooting downhill and getting the bus home?
Posted 6 years ago # -
“Trips today 21”
If this is real-time/accurate not being used much for commuting (yet).
Posted 6 years ago # -
Waverley Court said it was empty at one point yesterday, but it's a very small rack. It'd be useful if there was a manual way to flip the map view between bikes/spare docks, for journey planning.
One day this week I was going to try actually commuting on them - pickup would be from either Brunswick Road or Government Quay, depending on how much time I have, as both are over a mile from home.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"as both are over a mile from home."
I suspect that is the reason they aren't being used to commute much. The docks seem to be predominately in places where people congregate rather than live. That combined with most people already having established commutes. Hopefully as more docks are rolled out and new patterns emerge it will begin to change.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Commuting habits take quite a long time to change
People have sunk costs (buses, trains, cars, homes) that tie them to a particular pattern for months or years to come
Commutes also must be secure. I've been giving the scheme a serious shot for commuting since last week and it is thus far verging on unreliable. There is a reasonably high chance of the dock close to my home being full by the time I leave work.
After being stuck once I won't risk riding home with even 2 spots empty, as the penalty for getting it wrong is having to ride all the way back into town again. May as well just walk to begin with.
This unreliability is simply a factor of having no diversionary docks or overfilling capability (yet).
I hope the expansion comes fast and soon
Posted 6 years ago # -
But you really use a reliable hire scheme rather than your own bike?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Would I?
It is an interesting question and one I look forward to exploring further.
There are big advantages to point to point hire vs being tied to your own vehicle, being that on arrival you can walk around or take further transport and not have to return to the same point.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“on arrival you can walk around or take further transport ”
Yes, but that’s not the same as a daily commute.
May also suit some people with an ‘expensive’ bike that they wouldn’t want to leave at work.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@klaxon Agree with that. I walk past one of the docking stations about ten minutes into my walk home. I've contemplated jumping on one of the bikes and cycling to the nearest docking station to home. All in, it would probably save me 10 minutes, but I have seen a maximum of two spaces at my destination docking station, and often just one. Having to divert to the next nearest would take up 20 minutes of combined cycling and walking time, so the risk isn't worth it unless, ironically, I'm not in a rush.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Why would anyone be using the bikes for commuting at the moment? With the exception of Leith and King's Buildings, the bikes are all in the city centre. You'd need to see them expand the scheme to residential areas in the East, West and South to be useful for commuting.
That's not to say folk can't tag them onto to bus and train trips at the moment. I'm sure they are. Also, we need change in the city centre sooner rather than later to make lots of people really want to cycle. It's still so incredibly hostile.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I was coming up the Innocent Tunnel about 1015 this morning and thought there was a car in front. Turned out two hire bikes side by side making a little bit of heavy weather getting to the top. But on the whole the riders were happy
Posted 6 years ago # -
But on the whole the riders were happy.
What a lovely sentence. Thanks!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Always handy to carry a broken/spare Brompton - London bikes have 2 bungees, makes this fairly simple. Edinburgh less generous?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Do the dots on the map represent both physical stations and virtual stations?
Posted 6 years ago # -
At the moment there are only physical stations.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Is the 'Live' tab new? I only remember seeing 'Bikes' and 'Parking' tabs previously. I'm hoping that at some point 'Live' will allow real-time tracking of all active bikes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The tab is new but the information is not
Previously on the website the stats just stayed there and it wasn’t possible to hide them
I also note they have switched from a google map source to something osm derived
Posted 6 years ago # -
Counter to my post from yesterday, I was walking home last night and checked my destination docking bay - 4 spaces. So I hired from the nearest docking station and rode home. Probably only saved me 5-10 minutes all in, but was good fun riding in suit and overcoat. On my short trip across town I saw three other bikes in use, which seemed positive.
First bike hire issue encountered: the bike I was initially given had a slidey seat post - the clip wasn't tight enough and wouldn't hold my weight. I re-docked it and pressed the give me a bike button on the app. I was worried that I might just be given the same bike again. Happy to report I got a different one, so it may be that the app is smart enough to know if a bike is re-docked immediately it may have a mechanical issue.
@jdanielp I'm not sure if folk would be comfortable with live tracking of active bikes. I'd be concerned that it lend itself to a spot of digital stalking.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@PS this is true. Perhaps daily activity animations could be made available instead like the Strava ones that people post now and again.
Posted 6 years ago #
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