11042 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

...We're getting older, yes, we're lazy...we're not buying bikes to transport our purchases.

In paper bags.

[Jackerbie]

Things must be going well for U-Bike. 150 more bikes coming to Victoria, and they've opened an office in Vancouver. Possibility of expanding to those municipalities not served by the Mobi bike share. http://www.cbc.ca/ne...nland-1.4499482

[Love the rock]

I listened to a portion of the interview.  The question posed was to block off Cook to determine impact to car traffic.  She twisted the answer to indicate that the purpose was to determine effect/adoption of bicycle traffic.  That then led into safety of bicycles using these lanes in uncontrolled intersections and that led to a discussion about the city being liable if something happened to a bicyclist.  
 
Of course what I took away from the interview was impact and traffic congestion caused by the new bicycle lane was not to be measured or acknowledged.  My guess is that any additional car gridlock or loss of parking is a net gain for bicycle infrastructure as it will force people to walk and bike or stay away.  That is as much of the goal as is providing bike infrastructure.

It will force cars on to Quadra and Blanshard because Cook will be too backed up .
It’s already slow going most times .
You don’t have to worry about getting a speeding ticket most times it’s not possible.
If she worried about being sued how about if someone gets into pot and or edibles who’s under age has any issues period.
Criminal or medical it’s non regulated illegal products she has welcomed .
City of Victoria can name a hundred ways it could be sued .
Quit drawing at straws Mayor .

[mbjj]

Here's an article about those roving bikes in Paris.

 

https://www.thelocal...-floating-bikes

[spanky123]

Things must be going well for U-Bike. 150 more bikes coming to Victoria, and they've opened an office in Vancouver. Possibility of expanding to those municipalities not served by the Mobi bike share. http://www.cbc.ca/ne...nland-1.4499482

 

They have 150 bikes and told us back in September that they would have 300 shortly. Sounds like they are finally doing that.

 

It is a scale business. The bikes are extremely cheap to buy (as low as $35 each according to Fortune) so you would want to have as many bikes in as many places as possible. 

Edited by spanky123, 29 January 2018 - 10:31 AM.

[Mike K.]

Shouldn't we be regulating how many of these things are on our streets? I mean in what world can a company suddenly appear, flood public places with pay-to-use products, and operate completely unchecked by the local government?

[GaryOak]

It will be interesting to see what transpires of the new bike lanes and U-Bikes come warmer weather and tourist season.

[LJ]

And if this is supposedly a profitable business why hasn't any competing entity shown up?

[Matt R.]

What if you put a sandwich board on a bike. Can you just leave it anywhere on any sidewalk?

Matt.

[rmpeers]

Shouldn't we be regulating how many of these things are on our streets? I mean in what world can a company suddenly appear, flood public places with pay-to-use products, and operate completely unchecked by the local government?

If it involves bikes or pot, anything goes.

[Bingo]

Shouldn't we be regulating how many of these things are on our streets? I mean in what world can a company suddenly appear, flood public places with pay-to-use products, and operate completely unchecked by the local government?

 

While littering the neighbourhoods. 

[Jason-L]

Shouldn't we be regulating how many of these things are on our streets? I mean in what world can a company suddenly appear, flood public places with pay-to-use products, and operate completely unchecked by the local government?

I mean, what's next?  Operating a taxi service under the radar using a phone app?  Renting out spare rooms and by-passing hotel regulations?  Selling pot from storefronts?

 

I tells ya, it's anarchy out there!

[Mike K.]

Ok, I'm glad you brought that up.

 

Uber vehicles have insurance, the local driver is licensed and he/she pays gas taxes to operate the vehicle.

 

AirBnB's operate within homes that have insurance, the owners pay property taxes and they bring visitors to our community who spend money.

 

The bicycles operate on public land, they are unregulated in any way, there is no insurance, there is no taxation for using 100% public infrastructure, their one safety system (helmets) is no longer available on the vast majority of bicycles and the earnings generated flood out of our community.

 

Now all that said, the City of Victoria has regulated AirBnB and the province has thus far not permitted Uber to operate, so the two industries are not comparable to the sudden arrival of hundreds of bicycles our streets.

[spanky123]

Shouldn't we be regulating how many of these things are on our streets? I mean in what world can a company suddenly appear, flood public places with pay-to-use products, and operate completely unchecked by the local government?

 

One that has the Mayor promoting them as vindication for her trip to China.

[Jackerbie]

And if this is supposedly a profitable business why hasn't any competing entity shown up?

 

No competition in Victoria yet, but Toronto-based Dropbike is opening shop in Kelowna with 1,200 dockless bikes this spring.

[57WestHills]

The bicycles operate on public land, they are unregulated in any way, there is no insurance, there is no taxation for using 100% public infrastructure, their one safety system (helmets) is no longer available on the vast majority of bicycles and the earnings generated flood out of our community.

PST. GST. Business License & taxes. Taxi companies, for example, pay more tax because they consume more resources in a multitude of ways.

[nagel]

No PST presumably due to an exemption for both the bikes and the helmets.

[57WestHills]

Good point!

[sdwright.vic]

Gotta love the oxymoronic nature of environmentalist supporting the littering of the city with $58 disposable bicycles.

[Nparker]

No PST presumably due to an exemption for both the bikes and the helmets.

I walk almost everywhere, which is great for the environment. When can I expect to see the PST taken off of my shoe purchases?