https://pacersbikeshare.org/ (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Muscle Bike $2 + $0.20/min Electric Bike $5 + $0.25/min
That’s $14 for an hour long ride and $26 or even $40 for a long ride and a short ride.
https://www.carmel.in.gov/our-city/experience/attractions/bike-carmel/bike-share-program
Similarly located, more walkable urbanism focused but less urban Carmel, Indiana has a more reasonable rate:
Muscle Bike $1.50 per half hour to rent with a cap of $24 for up to a 24-hour period.
Can anyone explain to me why this difference is so large? Over the years I’ve come across some expensive bike shares and some very affordable ones. The only other thing worth noting is that residents of Marion County, which Indianapolis is in, can ride a certain amount free and at a discount after that. I thought bike shares were perfect for visitors or travelers who may not have a car at their destination.
Would you consider the Pacers Bike Share in Indianapolis Expensive?
For this price, if I was in Indy for a week, I’d buy a Craigslist bike and donate it to some random kid when I left. $40 of gas would take me across the state.
My local bike share is a screaming deal. No upcharge for electric bikes. 3 dollars for a single trip, 20 dollars for a month pass, or 75 for a year. Yet I still see people on those overpriced rental scooters as if they aren’t just a tourist attraction at this point.
That sounds very reasonable. I like to see monthly and weekly ticket options that even a visitor could sign up for. Every city could expand their transit reach by an extra few miles with a good bike share. That could translate to a huge area increase for transit coverage. I’d hate to see the option to bring your own bike be removed from busses and trains though. Bike share bikes can be like Russian Roulette.