KCRag Forum

JLowe2018 wrote:Does anyone know why you can't use cash at the Bike Stations?

I've wanted to try riding these but being a student and not having a credit card of some sort, I'm unable to use them. Adding a pay with cash option like a vending machine would probably really help increase ridership especially with those who have less money and can't afford a car.

1. the pricing model would need to be redone
$x per rental it+ $y per 30 minutes
how much do you pay up front for your rental? if you keep it longer how do they ensure you pay more at the end? And how do they do automated refunds in cash

2. theft of bikes
if you keep the bike they can charge your card

3. increased operations cost around retrieving the cash from the machines and depositing it

4. price increases to account for cash theft. you would be paying around the city at spots on the side of the road that would be easy targets

Because with a credit card you are ID'd so that you don't steal the bike. And your card gets charged if using extra time or don't return the bike.

flyingember wrote: how much do you pay up front for your rental? if you keep it longer how do they ensure you pay more at the end? And how do they do automated refunds in cash

2. theft of bikes
if you keep the bike they can charge your card

I thought these points while typing that. I understand them and they make sense; it just annoys me that I'm unable to use them without a card. :/

I even thought about preloaded cards you pay cash for but that still doesn't get around the theft issue.

New stations are now live at the Art Institute and Cleaver/McGee, brining the total to 30.

Can't complain but rate of station growth in KC is tiny compared to some markets smaller than KC. The local biz community needs to step up to the plate and sponsor a lot more stations. Then again, STL doesn't even have bikeshare yet.

earthling wrote:Can't complain but rate of station growth in KC is tiny compared to some markets smaller than KC. The local biz community needs to step up to the plate and sponsor a lot more stations. Then again, STL doesn't even have bikeshare yet.

demand and funding. AFAIK boulevard is the only company to pay outright for a station.

b-cycle bikes are getting a major upgrade: http://www.bcycle.com/single-news-item/ ... -ecosystem

Will KC system get these bikes soon? Am more interested in lighter bikes than more advanced bikes.

earthling wrote:Will KC system get these bikes soon? Am more interested in lighter bikes than more advanced bikes.

i know we're getting some lighter bikes soon, not sure if they'll have all of these features.

.

open house on nov. 17 for bike share expansion in north kansas city: https://kansascity.bcycle.com/buzz/2016/11/04/NKC

DaveKCMO wrote:open house on nov. 17 for bike share expansion in north kansas city: https://kansascity.bcycle.com/buzz/2016/11/04/NKC

Finally! Not that I ever use them personally, but it's always seemed asinine to me that NKC didn't have at least 3 stations.

At least 10 new stations in 2017. UMKC, Midtown, NKC.

https://twitter.com/SouthKCChamber/stat ... 8096611331

This was two years ago--
http://berkleyriverfrontparkkc.com/bike ... community/

20% of use is transit reach. When you think about how little coverage the stations had then and how few of the bus stops are near one that's impressive.

Agreements are in the works to have B-Stations incorporated into the designs of developing apartment projects and there are several hotels in the Westport and Plaza areas that will offer B-Cycle passes as part of the amenities packages for their guests.

http://berkleyriverfrontparkkc.com/bike ... community/

Has anyone heard about these apartment projects and are the hotels still offering this amenity? Intrigued where this is at ~2 years later? It would make sense that a 2015 plan is a 2017 opening, so the reason they put 10+ is they don't know what will be available in 2017 yet.

Are the apts/hotels directly sponsoring full cost of stations or did Bcycle have to raise funds? The former is the trend needed.

Can't complain about 10 more, KC catching up with Houston, Nashville and I think passed Charlotte (and STL doesn't even have bikeshare). Coverage getting fairly comprehensive for city core. River Market needs one on W End and time for a couple in Columbus Park and w39th.

Has KC bikeshare actively pursued MAC to sponsor some stations? As much momentum Amour Blvd/35th has, including bike lane, it could use several stations at Bway, Main Max Stop, new Gilham coffee shop and Troost shops coming. And Uptown/Valentine shops area. Maybe that is what they intend with the tweet about Midtown stations coming.

NYC's bikeshare system to get a light that beams an image of bicycle on ground in front for night safety reasons, to draw attention to drivers...
https://cleantechnica.com/2017/01/16/ne ... ight-tech/

north kansas city will get three bike share kiosks: https://twitter.com/cityofnkc/status/834217072498503680

State of bike share systems in US...
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/state- ... cto-report

Average ride for members is about 12 minutes while casual riders avg about 25 minutes.

St. Louis looks to be only large Midwest city w/out a system...

NKC stations coming next week (does "launch" mean installation starts or finishes?)

There's 40x new orange bikes for the system so they'll help riders glow before they go