Money, Safety, Vandalism: Ofo, one of the two bike sharing companies in White Plains, quits.

from: Ken
to: support@limebike.com
cc: Westchester Police <tips@wccops.com>,
tips@patch.com
date: Jul 5, 2018, 12:34 PM
subject: Fwd: Bikes abused.

Photo taken near the foot bridge south of the North White Plains train station on the Bronx River Pathway. Visible from the parkway.

This is the second I've seen that had apparently been submerged in the Bronx River. As I recall the other was a yellow OFO near Main Street in White Plains, NY.

I just spoke to a woman who's also seen this.

from: Hedi Palinkas (Support) <support@limebike.com> via zendesk.com
reply-to: Support <support@limebike.com>
to: Ken
date: Jul 6, 2018, 6:34 AM
subject: [limebike] Re: Fwd: Bikes abused.

Hi Ken,

Thank you for reaching out to LimeBike customer support. I forwarded your information and question to our local White Plains operations team for review. A team member will reach out to you if they require additional information or have any additional questions.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to customer support, we're happy to help.

Thank you,

-Hedi
Lime

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Multiple attempts to also contact Ofo failed.

Bike share company pedals out of White Plains six weeks after coasting in
Richard Liebson, Rockland/Westchester Journal News Published 2:54 p.m. ET July 23, 2018 | Updated 8:54 a.m. ET July 24, 2018

WHITE PLAINS — Ofo, one of the two bike sharing companies involved in a pilot program in White Plains, is putting the brakes on its participation.

Less than two months after the city launched its bike sharing program by introducing LimeBike and ofo at a June 4 press conference, ofo confirmed today that it's wheeling out of the city...

LimeBike will continue to operate in White Plains, with 150 bicycles available for rent through a cellphone app...

The China-based company — the world's biggest bike share business — is reportedly preparing to make deep cuts to its U.S. workforce and concentrate on a handful of big city markets. The company announced earlier this year that it will cease operating in Australia, Germany and Israel...

White Plains' one-year pilot program comes at no cost to the city or taxpayers. Both LimeBike and ofo paid a small permit fee to place 150 dockless bikes on city streets...

"LimeBike is doing very well in White Plains and they're eager to bring more bikes into the city," (Mayor Tom) Roach said. "They can bring up to another 150 bikes here, and we're hoping that's what they intend to do."
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Turn only lanes made even more dangerous by bike rentals. Friday, June 8, 2018

Now there is suddenly a flood of rental bicycles, which surprisingly have become attractive to teenagers. Fortunately, riders have mostly had the good sense so far to not use the absurd bike lanes. They are usually riding on sidewalks...

A bike would be trapped between TWO lanes of turning cars. How the heck can that be safe? And yet it's been that way for years. The only thing that's prevented an accident is that hardly anyone uses those ridiculously dangerous bike lanes. But now the rental bikes makes this a real possibility.

Do the right thing. Change the most dangerous situations immediately. Then FINALLY implement some common sense changes that radically improve quality of life in downtown White Plains.

The Common Council has finally got to stop serving the interests of its neighbors in the house neighborhoods who only want to conveniently drive and park in downtown for their amusement. Be responsible.
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