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@JeffB Besides the extremely high cost, the biggest problem with CaBi and other station-based system is the constant need for redistribution. I was in London recently, and over half the stations were either completely empty or completely full.

With Social Bicycles, our 'virtual hubs' give us all the benefits of a station-based system, plus the ability to lock outside of a hub. We won't completely eliminate the need for redistribution, but we can greatly reduce it through an incentive system.

If a user locks up inside a hub, they pay no additional fees. If they lock up outside a hub, they pay a small fee. This fee gets posted back to the map, and the next user to return the bike to a hub that needs a bike gets a credit. We hope this system will reduce the amount of redistribution necessary while also allowing people to lock up in areas outside hubs.

@MrTinDC - our bikes have a repair button that you can press if there is an issue, and you will receive a follow-up email where you can describe the damage. Also, we will have more advanced stats than CaBi. They only provide point to point data, we have true GPS routes.

by Ryan Rzepecki on May 1, 2012 10:13 am • link • report