TECHNOLOGY FOR CHANGE

New Yorkers to Get High-Tech, GPS-Enabled Bike-Sharing Program

Bike-sharing programs have been picking up speed around the globe, and a new high-tech system is about to take to the NYC streets. The Social Bike System is equipped with GPS and cellular connections to make bike sharing easy and convenient.

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New Yorkers to Get High-Tech, GPS-Enabled Bike-Sharing Program - Bikes Equipped with Safety, Utility Features

In addition to the high-tech system, the SoBi bikes also are equipped with sleek safety and utility features. Each bike has rear LED lights that illuminate automatically according to the time of day. They are also painted with a HALO retro-reflective coating, which makes the bikes highly visible to motorists at night. The lockbox, which contains the GPS system, also serves as a rear basket that can carry items like groceries.

The high-tech lockbox can be attached to nearly any bicycle (source: SoBi).

Because the SoBi system eliminates the need for traditional infrastructure like bike centers, the startup costs have been relatively inexpensive. While traditional bike-sharing companies generally shell out $3,000 to $4,000 per bike, SoBi will have to pay less than $1,000 per bike in startup costs. Although price rates for joining the program are not yet available, we here at Smarter Technology imagine that lower startup costs will translate to lower user costs. The program is presently slated to start this fall.

Would you join a bike-sharing program like SoBi if it became available in your city? Sound off in the comments section below.