Four years ago, while in Rome, I learned that the city’s bike share program ended after most of its bikes were stolen. Many were disassembled and ended up in dumps, “chop shops” or the Tiber.
Similar fates befell bikes of Velib, the first iteration of Paris’ share program. While some machines were tossed into the Seine or Canal Saint Martin, others turned up in Eastern Europe and North America. The new iteration of the service includes improved security features.
Here in New York, I sometimes see Citibikes, which are easy to recognize because of their shape, painted flat black or other colors that aren’t Citibike blue.
Other cities have likewise discovered that their bike share programs’ biggest problems are not breakdowns or cost. Rather, they are theft and vandalism.
That is what Oklahoma City is now experiencing. Ride OKC, the city’s share program, announced that it recently a third of its fleet in a short period of time.
I’ve never been to Oklahoma City. From what I understand, it’s as auto-centric as many other places in Southern and Western US, though it’s mayor is trying to change that. I hope the loss of those bikes doesn’t derail his efforts.
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