These things are everywhere in my neighborhood and even though I try to take transit (or walk) as much as possible, sometimes you a car is the best option to get where you’re going and these are so much nicer than an Uber/Lyft/taxi. No surprise that ridership has exploded since they became accessible to the general public.
They should find a way to put a bike rack on the back of them. That would make them outstanding for mixed transit and as a viable backup bailout option. The bailout option would greatly increase the confidence and flexibility of e-bikes and road/hybrid.
The downside would be they’d have to retrain a bunch of stuff, probably. I’m guessing an interior bike space would be easier to manage.
I wonder what the monthly totals will be next year. When will it hit the 1 million mark, then 10 million?
and these are so much nicer than an Uber/Lyft/taxi.
Can you elaborate a bit? Nicer as in comfort-wise, or easier to use? Also, do they still get stuck and confused sometimes?
They’re just as easy to use, and they are standardized (afaik) on car type, being some kind of Jaguar model which is comfy. But more experientially, you are no longer in a social situation and can do whatever you like. And it’s easy to set up the music to whatever you like :)
I’ve not been in one that has been stuck or confused, though I have seen them ‘stuck’ while I am pedestrianing (not stuck, but actually being cautious and deferent to other entities on the streetscape…)
Thanks! I just read the Wired article linked in this community and they say a similar thing.
That’s kind of concerning, actually. It’s just another way to isolate ourselves - even though I totally get it.
Don’t forget this is a dense city. Isolation is in short supply! It’s nice to be able to choose a non-social option to get somewhere if that’s what I’m in the mood for. And obviously everyone is different but I’m usually taking a car to see my friends, go to a concert, store, restaurant, etc – the difference being that I am choosing those social interactions and opting out of the social part of a cab ride; not something I’ve personally ever held much in value in the first place.
Damn, that’s some impressive scaling. I hope they can scale to more cities at a similar pace.
