the business of bike sharing - outdoor advertising

In order to understand the mechanism of the shared economy, it is helpful to spend a working day morning near Dupont Circle Island.
There, hundreds of residents, visitors and commuters can pick up or drop off one of many unique red bikes every day through the area's Capital Bikeshare project. The 40-
Bike racks near 20 th Street and northwest of Massachusetts Avenue are the busiest stations for the largest bicycles
The shared plans in the US, and the coming and going of DuPont are the epitome of supply --and-
Demand logistics for modern bicyclessharing system.
In order to function effectively, there needs to be enough bicycles to borrow, and there is enough space in the rack to receive the returned bicycles.
The Capital Bikeshare has 25 employees who are trying to maintain this delicate balance by redistributing bicycles around the city. But at 11 a. m.
The system failed in the last working day.
"It's a bit awkward," Portuguese tourist Joseph Parez said as he looked around the station for available docks.
He bought a 24.
One hour of membership that morning, the terms require him to be at 30-
Or face overtime pay.
After cycling from 24 th and N th streets in the northwest to DuPont, he hopes to take a break from sightseeing.
Instead, Paris said he felt a lot of pressure to find a space within 15 minutes.
A few minutes later, Chris merryam rode his bike to get his hair cut from the Justice Department's Office.
Although mereyam had already checked online when he left the office about 10 minutes ago to ensure there was a vacancy, there was no vacancy when he arrived at Dupont Circle.
He is more fortunate.
At that time, a bicycle team in the capital arrived and began to redistribute bicycles.
Melyam handed him two.
Wheeler went to them.
If he waited a little longer, he might be able to take advantage of the space made up by Adam starsman, a freshman at George Washington University, who plans to bike back to campus after DuPont's own haircut.
It was a dance that was repeated in town every day.
At another station near the corner of northwest Avenue and Northwest T Street in New Hampshire, Capital Bikeshare employee Nick Hritz, who redistributed about 20 bicycles near the State Department and the Transportation Department.
A dispatcher reminded him that the New Hampshire station was empty.
Hritz plans to leave a few and several at a station near 17 northwest and Corcoran Street.
Hritz usually drives a capital bicycle around the city from around 5 in the morning. m. to 3:30 p. m.
Based on when and where bicycles are needed.
"We can improve performance with more terminals and stations, but we may never be able to meet all the needs of all locations.
That's why many members buy/use their own bikes if they know they're going to work and come back, or do a similar round trip.
It's unique, but you can't always take the bus when you want it, and you can't find a seat when it comes . "
Sebastian in e-mail.
He helped look after the bike.
District Department of Transport sharing plan.
Between Arlington, Alexandria and the network of the region, the Capital Bikeshare has more shared bikes than any other part of the country, with about 1,890 bikes and 22,000 annual members, according to the district Transportation Department.
Since its inception, thousands of users have taken more than 4 million vehicles, with an average of about 12 minutes per vehicle among members of the annual contract.
With the rise of cars
Sharing services;
Airbnb, which allows people to rent a bedroom for travelers for a short time;
Bikeshare and shared office space are not the first countries to enter the shared economy in Washington.
But it is the easiest to find because it has a unique red bike.
It is also a service that, in the eyes of young professionals in the city, is popular and they want to reduce costs and hesitate to buy big items like cars or houses.
Jorge Delgado, Capital Bikeshare user, is such a young professional who uses the system to commute every morning and sometimes on personal trips on weekends. The 25-year-
Old rely on the annual membership since September 20 11 years, joined about a year later moved to Washington.
Every morning around 8: 40, Delgado checks his smartphone to see the station closest to his apartment --
First Street and North West Rhode Island Avenue or North West Florida Avenue and R Street-
There are bicycles.
"If I am not outside at 8: 40 or 8: 45, I will most likely not be able to find a bicycle," he said . ".
If he finds one, he will reach a station from 21: 00, I will reach the street in the northwest direction in about 17 minutes, and can reach the George Washington University admissions office by 9: 00m.
If he is late, there is no bike, Delgado takes the subway from Shaw
Howard, 45 minutes to the bottom of the fog-
He said he had not taken the subway since the president took office in January.
The annual membership fee is $75, which is a tenth of what he may spend on subway fares during his work week, if he commute twice a day.
But for Delgado, the decision is more than just an economic one.
"It does keep me active.
I'm not an early man.
It helps me wake up and the environment.
"The Capital Bikeshare may be useful to residents, but it also benefits Washington's image outside the region, which is a key factor in attracting more people to the capital, according to Elliot Ferguson, president and chief executive of Destination DC.
An organization that markets the city as a tourist destination.
"It's a big deal, especially when we're looking for international tourists from Montreal, Dublin, London.
People are very interested in getting off the bus, but they don't have to get on the bus, "said Ferguson, who is also a bicycle user himself.
He said he noticed European and Asian tourists, who are often used to riding bicycles in their hometown, and who are particularly enthusiastic about capital bicycles when they visit the capital.
The presence of the Capital Bikeshare may also make a city more attractive to potential residents, said Richard Bradley, executive director of downtown D. C.
Business Improvement Area.
The shared economy allows individuals and companies to "free up capital for other purposes," Bradley said ".
"Young people can now afford to go to town because they may share apartments, share transport and reduce costs.
He added: "Sharing culture can contribute to the creativity of the city.
"We are learning to share ideas and willingness to cooperate.
It applies creativity to startup services, and [sharers]
It will bring such value to the society.
However, he pointed out that there is a generation gap between the sharer and the non-sharer. sharers.
"I think older people still think we need two houses, three cars, and we have to have everything.
This is the culture we inherited.
For Chris Hamilton, head of transportation for Arlington commuter services, the capital bicycle is a careful investment in the economic development of a region.
He said he found more millennials and baby boomers moving back to the city, "wanting a sense of place and wanting to walk to some places, cycling is a supplement to that.
"When we can be in more [population]
Density, we can get a more diverse business culture that attracts all kinds of people [
Who wants to live?
"There you can walk around without getting on the bus and go to bars and restaurants," he said . ". A soon-to-
26-Master of Urban and Regional Planningyear-
Old Aaron odor says he likes the concept of the Capital Bikeshare, but it doesn't work for his daily commute.
Supply of system-and-
The balance of demand broke down too many times and he ended his membership.
"I raised my arms.
I am very interested in urban planning and sustainable development.
As far as my demographics are concerned, you don't have to sell it to me at this point, "Ordower said, adding," it's a shame it doesn't work.
"This is not because of the lack of attempts.
A few years ago, his employer, the World Bank, offered annual membership for a small number of employees, and Ordower was one of the first to sign up.
When he tried to commute from his apartment near 16 northwest and U Street, he quickly became frustrated.
"Let's say I need a meeting at 9 in the office," he said, meaning he wants to ride a bike around 8: 30. m.
"I can check my phone and see if there is a bike.
When I got there, there was no bike and I got stuck with my helmet.
I have to take the bus or drive in the city.
Scenes like this appear too many times, "says Ordower, who is now walking to work.
The Capital Bikeshare has also raised concerns among some in the Washington cycling community.
Simon Parker, manager of bike racks at a bicycle shop in northwest Washington, expressed concern about newbies on the road --
He said he witnessed several accidents.
"Since the beginning of the Capital Bikeshare, any incident [I’ve witnessed]in bike-to-
Bicycle riders collided in the capital.
"They are the least experienced riders, imitating more experienced riders," he said . ".
The Capital Bikeshare pushed helmet sales up 15% immediately after the bike rack was opened, although since then, especially in the city --
The subsidy program began selling its own helmets and had membership, Pak said.
"I can't say it's great," said Pak . " Although he mentioned that about a tenth of customers walked into the store and looked for a smoother alternative to the heavier bikes offered by the capital.
The Capital Bikeshare consists of a partnership between the local government and Portland, Oregon. -
Alta shared bikes.
ALTA operates bicycles in Boston (
In other places)
It has 100 stations and 1,000 bicycles and plans to launch similar projects in New York, Chicago.
The New York version, named after its sponsor, Citibank, may overtake the capital city bike as the nation's largest, with plans to own more than 6,000 bikes.
Alta provides maintenance, installation, cycling and other equipment for the system
Any income capital generated by Bikeshare is charged by the jurisdiction and then paid by the jurisdiction to Alta.
Operating costs vary by region
While a capital bike project is approaching profitability, others are not.
Operating costs do not include station installation and bicycle purchase.
In 2010, the Ministry of Transport and Arlington County pioneered the Capital Bikeshare, with 100 stations in the area and 14 stations in Arlington.
In September, Alexandria joined eight stations.
Today, there are more than 200 stations between the three jurisdictions.
Within CapitalBikeshare, each jurisdiction operates the same,
Cyclists sign up for 24-
$7 one hour membership, $15 three days, $25 per month, $75 per year.
In the past year,
The hourly membership system has grown by nearly 100,000 users
Wide, every year and three-
The number of members increased gradually.
While the region, Arlington and Alexandria are all considering expanding their radio network, the new jurisdiction is joining the system --
Last month, Montgomery County announced plans to launch its Capital Bikeshare project later this year, starting at 50 stations.
So far, the system in the area is closest to the day that covers it. to-
The total income recovered by the Japanese capital is nearly 100%.
According to Chris Holborn, Department of bicycles, Department of Transport, Regional Transport, the average installation cost of bicycle stations in the region is about $54,000, including space, dock equipment and bicycles
Share Project Manager
After installation, the station costs an average of $24,000 a year for repairs.
Reallocate bicycles from station to station, operate call center and web hosting.
Each general unit has generated $20,000 in revenue since 2012, Holben said, although in its heyday, when Capital Bikeshare offers a deal through LivingSocial, they will be around $23,000.
In Arlington, the system generated a total of about $411,000 in revenue in 2012 --
More than twice as much as in 2011.
Its total cost is $643,000, which means it takes back about 64% of the cost.
In the meantime, Arlington's bikes have grown to 41 sites and now 286 are in circulation.
Alexander started its project eight months ago, so it has no cost
Recovery data have not yet been released.
Each project takes a different cost approach. recovery.
Last month, the region issued a bid request for advertisers to pick up stations --
Holbenn said the minimum bid was a five-year advance of $1 million, which the city hopes to implement in the spring or summer.
On the other hand, Arlington is looking for large sponsors --
Virginia law, which affects outdoor advertising, could prevent the county from participating in certain advertising campaigns, Hamilton said.
Despite efforts by managers at Capital Bikeshare to recover costs, they see the service as a public product.
"Transportation systems don't usually make money or pay costs --
We are probably one of the most successful transportation systems in this regard . "