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sonyxperiageek

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#208201 31-Jan-2017 19:54
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I'm in Guangzhou China at the moment and was very intrigued at these ride sharing bicycles and how they worked so I gave one a try today.



Basically these bikes must have a data sim and GPS built into each bike (Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not entirely sure myself), and to unlock it you just have to scan the QR code on your phone and providing you have enough credit it automatically unlocks the bike.

I was thinking if New Zealand would eventually have something like this. It would be pretty convenient but I don't know if the idea of littering our streets with orange, yellow bikes seem like a good idea. I can understand China having them as their streets are already pretty messy. In fact I think the littering of orange bikes make the city less messy to be honest!




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wellygary
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  #1713506 31-Jan-2017 20:23
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Bike sharing schemes and compulsory helmets generally dont go well together,

 

THe whole "whose head has been here before" is a significant detraction....




sonyxperiageek

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  #1713507 31-Jan-2017 20:25
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Oh yeah almost forgot wearing helmets is compulsory here in NZ! Haven't seen a single person wearing a helmet in China!




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blakamin
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  #1713532 31-Jan-2017 21:07
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New York and its surrounds has been doing it for awhile... https://www.citibikenyc.com/

 

Pretty cool  idea in a city that's hard to get around in by car.

 

 

 

It would suck in Welly though :D




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  #1713533 31-Jan-2017 21:11
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In the northern hemisphere gravity is stronger on the up side so when you fall the head never hits anything


Technofreak
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  #1713542 31-Jan-2017 21:41
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There's already something like this in New Zealand. I have an app on my phone called City Bikes , it's a world wide app and shows bikes in Auckland, Cambridge, and Christchurch.




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kingjj
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  #1713616 1-Feb-2017 02:55
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Something similar has been running in Christchurch since August 2015. Sponsored by Spark there's 5 stations I think around the CBD with half a dozen bikes and helmets at each. I haven't seen a lot of usage but on nice sunny days there is certainly a lot of tourists that take advantage of the half hour free. You use an app to enter the code for the bike you want and once released it starts the timer, you get billed after the 30 mins free until the bike is returned to a station. Locking/unlocking/payment all managed by the NextBike app.


sonyxperiageek

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  #1713871 1-Feb-2017 12:31
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Just researched and saw that NextBike were also available in parts of Auckland such as at Hobsonville Point where if you're registered you get a few hours free!

How do these 'smart" bikes actually work? Do they run off a data sim or do they just connect via Bluetooth or something similar? I noticed in China, they seem to be very keen on QR codes. There was an Anker charging station that again used a QR code to "release/loan" you a portable charger!




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MikeAqua
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  #1713880 1-Feb-2017 12:43
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I've used something similar in Europe (Brussels or Barcelona can't remember which).

 

I didn't have helmet with me so that felt weird. but other wise good value.





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richms
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  #1713948 1-Feb-2017 15:12
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sonyxperiageek: Just researched and saw that NextBike were also available in parts of Auckland such as at Hobsonville Point where if you're registered you get a few hours free!

How do these 'smart" bikes actually work? Do they run off a data sim or do they just connect via Bluetooth or something similar? I noticed in China, they seem to be very keen on QR codes. There was an Anker charging station that again used a QR code to "release/loan" you a portable charger!

 

Portable chargers and wifi in almost every resturant is something that is great about China. One place I was at didnt have any powerbanks so had a few plug in chargers that they would bring over to you if you needed it, and power sockets in every booth were common too.





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sonyxperiageek

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  #1714781 3-Feb-2017 04:24
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richms:

sonyxperiageek: Just researched and saw that NextBike were also available in parts of Auckland such as at Hobsonville Point where if you're registered you get a few hours free!

How do these 'smart" bikes actually work? Do they run off a data sim or do they just connect via Bluetooth or something similar? I noticed in China, they seem to be very keen on QR codes. There was an Anker charging station that again used a QR code to "release/loan" you a portable charger!

 

Portable chargers and wifi in almost every resturant is something that is great about China. One place I was at didnt have any powerbanks so had a few plug in chargers that they would bring over to you if you needed it, and power sockets in every booth were common too.

 

 

I still connect to internet using my data to access social media. Gotta watch it though cause i've already used 2.3GB of data already! Do some of their free WiFi still need a valid China mobile number to get it activated though I wonder...




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