It means the bike knows it's been stolen, presumably when it's moving despite not being hired. I guess some means of stealing it also break the electronics (or perhaps it's been a later upgrade).
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme
(1600 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Red and blue means the bike has been forcefully stolen. No lights I believe is just when the bike has been stolen/on a trip for so long that the battery is dead.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I thought the only way the battery could be charged was by actually cycling the bike, though?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Ah, interesting - thanks!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I thought they were only actually charged at the depot. May well be wrong!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I asked in the in-app chat out of sheer curiosity. Apparently they’re charged when docked at a station. Not quite sure how that works since they’re not connected to the mains but alas.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I vaguely recall hearing that the app selects a bike which hasn't been used recently, in order to charge the battery by using it. Though I can't remember where I heard that...
If that is the case, maybe the bike was stolen, abandoned for a couple of days and then ridden again?
EDIT: @CycleAlex: That does indeed not make much sense - especially considering dockless stations?
Posted 4 years ago # -
I was told the same tale: uncycled bikes are prioritised by the app to charge them. The docks have no juice.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Perhaps they mean the bikes are then taken from the docks to be charged but simplified it down?
Depressingly I've just seen three youths ride by on stolen bikes. Noticed quite a bit more joy riding in the last few weeks around Tollcross.
You'll also notice that nearly every dock has a traffic cone either at or next to it these days (despite my best efforts nearby).
Posted 4 years ago # -
Stolen Burger Bike flashing away on its side stand in the Kirkgate. Their problem.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I noticed a couple of them behind bars in a storage area in Cables Wynd House two weeks ago - one with lights flashing, one dark. The dark one was still there on Friday when I passed.
Posted 4 years ago # -
This from Nov 15th Spokesworker who gave a very open and honest account of how the scheme is going at the recent Spokes Public Meeting (I think they also mentioned about charging eBikes back at the depot - check the video)Spokes Public Meeting:
Ed Cycle Hire needs your help!
This is a condensed version of a blog by Ed Cycle Hire.
In recent weeks we’ve noticed a spike in theft and vandalism of
our fleet. As a first priority we are working with Police Scotland,
but in order to protect our scheme, we need your support.
The vandalism and theft occurs all over the network. We have
completed the following actions to try and ensure that it is limited:
Reviewed all stations to ensure bikes are located in areas with
good lighting, lots of passing traffic and CCTV where possible.
Hired roving security patrols at times when vandalism peaks
Increased operational staff to manage bike collections and
attending to stations more regularly.
Despite these actions, theft and vandalism continues — especially
by young teenagers. This affects the number of bikes available and
the performance of the scheme for end-users. At worst, it could
affect the viability of the scheme. It could also affect the appetite
for the scheme to continue to grow at the pace it has been.
How you can help
1. Call the Police on 101 if you see any of the following...
Someone stealing or vandalising a bike
Someone riding a bike with flashing blue and red front lights
Someone riding a bike with no lights on
2. Take photos and/or videos as well as calling the police.
3. If you see a bike dumped or somewhere inappropriate, please
contact support@edinburghcyclehire.com or 0131 278 3000 with
the as much of the following information as possible...
Name & Number of Bike ... Picture of Bike ... Location
We will collect the bike and take it to our workshop for some TLCPosted 4 years ago # -
Felt it worth repeating previous posts - we can all help to make the scheme work better.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Red and blue flasher on North Bridge. None of my business.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Thought I spotted electric hire bikes at docking station Queen Margaret Drive- Glasgow this afternoon though was dark, cold and raining heavily
Posted 4 years ago # -
I genuinely don't see the point in the request to report folk riding nicked bikes to the police. Putting pressure on the polis to deal with the situation is mental. Beef up the locking mechanism first.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Trixie
I'm told the GPS/locking module is worth as much as the bike itself. Together with redesign and installation I can't see the scheme's finances surviving an upgrade programme.
Quite agree that the cops can't be expected to chase these things around town.
I responded to the police survey recently and told them to concentrate on nothing but domestic violence as that is the root of all evil.
Posted 4 years ago # -
scheme has just been renamed
Give a Ned a Bike (for Xmas)
Posted 4 years ago # -
Looks like there's a new general manager for the scheme. Somewhat sad as Charles (previous GM) was always really pleasant. https://twitter.com/liamkerrMSP/status/1207274229827330049?s=20
Posted 4 years ago # -
Give a ned a Just Eat Cycles pass, and they will ride for an hour/day/year; show them how to jimmy the security, and they will ride for a lifetime.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I’ve reported 3 abandoned bikes in last 2 weeks through the app. and have always received a ‘thank you’ which was nice but not necessary. Why wouldn’t you try and help by letting them know about abandoned or vandalised bikes?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@CycleAlex - I was impressed by Charles at the Spokes meeting. He seemed really honest about the mistakes they had made when first installing the scheme.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Stumbled across this the other day:
https://www.boycottjusteatcycles.com/
Note it's the involvement of Serco they're against. (And rightly so, I think - they're thoroughly vile.):
"We're not against an Edinburgh Bike Share scheme, we just want people to know that using the Just Eat cycles profits a corporate involved in Arms trade, Detention, Army & Nuclear activities: SERCO PLC"
Posted 4 years ago # -
@CycleAlex @Rosie indeed, Charles seemed like a genuine and enthusiastic person. I hope that what he said at the meeting had no bearing on his current lack of employment.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@AIMC - I've reported many an abandoned bike and I have always found the Serco staff to be polite and helpful. I do this as it's clearly the right thing to do. That doesn't stop it being futile though. The bikes are all effectively unlocked, as it only takes is a quick dunt with a traffic cone to release one.
It doesn't have to be like this. Just look at how the Nextbike system works:
Relying on people to report lost bikes is no way to run a system. Asking people to video neds stealing bikes is simply crazy.
I reckon every CCEer wants the cycle hire scheme to be a success. Many are doing their bit, by hiring bikes and reporting strays - now it is time for the scheme managers to do their bit and beef up security.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Why wouldn’t you try and help by letting them know about abandoned or vandalised bikes?
In my case;
1) I resent being excluded from the scheme
2) I hate SERCO
3) They never said thanks for me physically moving bikes, let alone reporting stolen onesPosted 4 years ago # -
I don't understand why they need the location of stolen bikes to be reported. Surely they report their own location and if it isn't the dock where they were parked then they are presumably stolen.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I returned a stolen bike to Fountainbridge earlier on and the guy on the live chat sent me an hour pass as thanks.
Considering they would have otherwise had to send out one/two people in a van to retrieve the bike, giving out passes for returning bikes could be an interesting idea.
An hour pass is £1.50 - a lot cheaper than wages/fuel etc.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Might be more tempted to help if that became a thing... Returning from Star Wars on Thursday evening, I spotted someone having difficulty removing what appeared to be a legitimately hired bike from the dock near the end of High Riggs. While trying to release it from the dock, they were actually causing the structure (otherwise bike-free) to lift off the ground and fall back noisily... Quality dock.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I was always hoping they'd provide some sort of return for voluntarily moving bikes to hilltop docks.
When in a rush on Thursday evening to get to as early a post-work screening of Space Film as possible I again experienced some classic hurry-thwarting app-failure from the system, which has an uncanny ability to distinguish between opportunistic leisure use and relatively urgent need. I didn't bother trying to get one on the way home (which could have taken me from OT to Commercial Quay, seeing as Bernard St is currently gone) and just ran half the way instead.
On Friday lunchtime, with no pressing time requirements, I had two seamless undocks of two slightly repair-deficient bikes to get to Newington and back.Posted 4 years ago #
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