Block JUMP Bikes for now
A JUMP Bike in Providence. The passenger here is a lot more benign than many of the riders.
From Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com
A couple of weeks ago I implied here that though we’re in the Wild West period of such rentable personal-transportation options as dockless JUMP Bikes, we shouldn’t worry too much about them.
But I grossly underestimated the potential for mayhem with these bikes in some parts of Providence, as seen in recent episodes of teens, almost all boys, stealing these things for out-of-control rides that have included scaring, and even assaulting, some hapless pedestrians. These punks also ignore all traffic rules and in so doing threaten to cause serious car and truck crashes.
JUMP is owned by scandal-ridden Uber.
What to do? First off, what Mayor Jorge Elorza announced last week: These dockless bikes are being pulled from service, at least for a while. He said:
“As part of a commitment to provide residents and visitors with convenient and equitable intermodal transportation options, a joint public safety effort will collect bicycles and explore options to enhance security mechanisms for the system and to promote responsible ridership.”
Let’s look for long-term solutions to the problem. Perhaps this will involve only allowing bikes that must be docked -- i.e., station-based. Station-based systems can obviously be better monitored by police than can systems in which bikes (and scooters) can be picked up and left willy-nilly all over place, most irritatingly in the middle of sidewalks. This limitation, of course, will make them less accessible to many people, but so be it. Further, the police and courts must crack down hard on wild riders and thieves who abuse shareable bikes and scooters -- and publicize the punishment. And Uber (not unfamiliar with scandal) must be compelled to improve JUMP’s anti-theft technology ASAP. That applies to other companies offering similar services, too.
It’s too bad that the actions of a few would deprive many of the opportunity to use this handy, nonpolluting and fun transport, but public safety demands it.
JUMP Bikes, e-scooters worth the start-up problems
From Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com
In other environmental news, GoLocal reports that Providence City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Corriea wants to ban JUMP Bikes and e-scooters from the city’s Ward Six until a community meeting can be held with transportation companies’ representatives.
Yes, we’re in the early, Wild West period of these new personal-transportation options.
New local ordinances and state laws are needed to control where they can be parked and retrieved, helmets should be mandated, and actions taken to discourage their vandalization. And there has to be a crackdown to make users of these things follow the rules of the road, such as obeying stop signs and traffic lights and barring people from riding them on sidewalks. A few of the users (especially boys and young men) use them like characters in a manic video game.
Still, we should put up with their inconveniences while appropriate rules are being crafted. They let people who cannot afford a car or truck get around easily; they take up far less space than other vehicles, and they don’t add to air pollution.
To read the GoLocal story, please hit this link.