Another dockless bikes thread

[Tom B]

The Beryl bikes are still going in Manchester - they had a rough spot about a year ago when there were next to no bikes available, there is a new sponsor (another bank). We've lost a few docking stations near where I work, so I haven't used them - they got installed, then not operational, then removed. I'd potentially have used them to get into the city centre, but by the time I now reach the first dock on foot, I'm already halfway into town, so pointless.

They're actually recruiting bicycle mechanics, so if you have experience in mechanical maintenance and working in a manufacturing, mechanical and/or an engineering front line environment then you can apply to join Beryl to work full time, on shifts Monday to Sunday for £25k.

 

[Slick]

yes i was in that area sunday and saw a fair few scattered around, we had to take the DLR, thats a flippin rip off !

To be fair, I love the DLR. Long story but I had to jump a taxi from city airport to the Dartford Crossing and he obviously tried it on taking me the tourist route, but I negotiated a 30 quid reduction but it still came to £70. Fortunately on expenses. Some locals set me straight the following day and from Erith, I got the overground to Woolwich then the DLR into city all for about 4 quid. I love the London transport links, I feel like I can be almost anywhere starting from the DLR.

I wanted to try the Voi ones in Cambridge but the Android app doesn't work on a non-Google phone (can't add a payment method) and there's no other way to hire them. Why do they limit their market like that? Why does government allow shoot that pushes people into the Google-Apple duopoly that they struggle to regulate?

Ban the lot of them from outside designated parking spots! 😉

Yeah, similar in Glasgow. I downloaded the app on impulse one day to try them out and got bored halfway through and haven't went near them since. They look like crap bikes as well.

 

[cyberknight]

To be fair, I love the DLR. Long story but I had to jump a taxi from city airport to the Dartford Crossing and he obviously tried it on taking me the tourist route, but I negotiated a 30 quid reduction but it still came to £70. Fortunately on expenses. Some locals set me straight the following day and from Erith, I got the overground to Woolwich then the DLR into city all for about 4 quid. I love the London transport links, I feel like I can be almost anywhere starting from the DLR.

Yeah, similar in Glasgow. I downloaded the app on impulse one day to try them out and got bored halfway through and haven't went near them since. They look like crap bikes as well.

2 stations , stratford international to stratford then stratford to pudding lane over £46 return for 4 for literally about 10 mins max each way

 

[Slick]

2 stations , stratford international to stratford then stratford to pudding lane over £46 return for 4 for literally about 10 mins max each way

I take it back, total rip off.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Beryl are in Leeds, but when I visit now Leeds its so compact I'm happy walking around.

A negative I've seen is if you don't leave it in a bay its £10, what happens when they bay I want to use is full. I can check the status before I set off but what happens if I get there and its full? Do I just go back? I'd rather there be no charge if you leave it 'within 10metres' if no bays free,

The reason is possibly because if the operators didn't give people a £10 incentive to leave it in a bay then no one would ever use the bays at all. They'd just leave them strewn all over the the place blocking footways and causing a nuisance. I don't suppose operators give a damn about the problems that causes for everyone else but what they probably do care about the fact that they'd need to collect them that would eat into their profits.

Now maybe your idea of "within 10 metres" might be neatly parked next to the bay. But I guarantee that you'd be pretty much in your own with that responsible definition. The majority would think that 9 metres away, on its side, slap bang in in the middle of the pavement is perfectly good enough for their £10 reduction.

So what you see is a negative turns into a major positive for pedestrians and local residents.

 

[vickster]

2 stations , stratford international to stratford then stratford to pudding lane over £46 return for 4 for literally about 10 mins max each way

Adults, peak time?
Single Stratford intl DLR to Bank DLR is £3.40 contactless
Offpeak £2.80
Cash fare always more, £6.90
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder
Daily contactless payg adult cap zones 1-2 is £8.50.

 

[cyberknight]

Adults, peak time?
Single Stratford intl DLR to Bank DLR is £3.40 contactless
Offpeak £2.80
Cash fare always more, £6.90
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder
Daily contactless payg adult cap zones 1-2 is £8.50.

sunday morning, we had to ask someone to help us as we hadnt a clue and they were shocked at the price it charged us , we did 3 adult one child return.

 

[vickster]

sunday morning

Odd, how did you pay?!

 

[cyberknight]

Odd, how did you pay?!

contactless

 

[vickster]

contactless

You should dispute with TFL. Sounds like tapping didn’t work right

 

[cyberknight]

You should dispute with TFL. Sounds like tapping didn’t work right

as im not planning on going back to london in the foreseeable future so not sure its worth the hassle , i have been their twice ever and i didnt enjoy crowds, noise and built up cities.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've highlighted my key point - should the £10 apply if the bay is full?

I'd say Yes. Because otherwise people will just leave them lying around all over the place rather than seeking out a bay that isn't full.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Adults, peak time?
Single Stratford intl DLR to Bank DLR is £3.40 contactless
Offpeak £2.80
Cash fare always more, £6.90
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder
Daily contactless payg adult cap zones 1-2 is £8.50.

Its free for me*! Waves Old Git Oyster card, laughing manically.

* After 9am

 

[Slick]

Adults, peak time?
Single Stratford intl DLR to Bank DLR is £3.40 contactless
Offpeak £2.80
Cash fare always more, £6.90
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder
Daily contactless payg adult cap zones 1-2 is £8.50.

That was my experience, brilliant system.

 

[mjr]

contactless

At a ticket machine, or by tapping the gate?

( £6.90 x 3.5 x 2 = £48.30 for paper tickets. In any city with paperless fares, not only London, buying paper tickets tends to be a terrible deal, even if you buy the paper with contactless. Paperless car parks tend to be the same. )