Some readers may be familiar with the car2go car-sharing system, which is now in use in several cities around the world. Users locate the closest available car via the internet or a telephone call, go to it, unlock it with a chip card, enter their PIN on its keypad, then drive it wherever they want (within its range). When done, they just leave it at the closest designated car2go parking spot, where the next user will pick it up. It's a pretty neat idea, so if it works for cars, why not bicycles? That's where the fledgling sobi (Social Bicycles) project comes in.
Although there would be no actual home base, the fleets of bikes would have "hub" areas that would be their domain. If a bike were left out of its hub, the rider who left it there would have to pay a fee. If a subsequent rider were to take it back into the hub, however, they would receive a credit. Prices for using the service could vary from city to city, although Rzepecki likes the idea of a membership plus use model - perhaps a US$10 monthly fee including one free hour a day, with $5 for each additional hour after that.
The bikes themselves would be custom-built city cruisers, with integrated lighting powered by an onboard solar panel, which would likewise power the electronics. In order to keep dirty pant cuffs and maintenance to a minimum, they would also use shaft drives instead of chains. An initial fleet of bikes to be used in a New York City pilot project has already been ordered.
People interested in making contributions towards development of the system can visit the sobi website to find out how.-gizmag.com
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