Seattle Culture
People Are Leaving Spin and LimeBikes in Impressively Dumb Places
Some Seattleites are ditching the stationless bikes in vexing locations.
By Max Rose August 16, 2017
It’s only been a few weeks, but LimeBike and Spin—Seattle’s first stationless bike-share companies—are off to promising starts. Perhaps benefiting from Seattle’s record-breaking dry spell, the two companies collectively saw upward of 13,000 rides during their first week with only 1,000 bikes between them. On Thursday, Beijing-based ofo rolls out 1,000 of its yellow bikes in Seattle. A fourth company, VBikes, has also applied for a permit, meaning there could soon be 4,000 shareable bikes on the streets.
Any program that could potentially ease Seattle’s nightmarish traffic is welcome, but with companies ramping up their fleets through September an important question remains: where are people leaving these dockless bikes when they’re done cruising the city?
The LimeBike and Spin apps both designate appropriate parking locations—such as existing bike racks and open grassy areas—but people are still leaving them in incredibly dumb places. Fortunately the majority of riders seem to use common sense, but these park jobs are real head-scratchers.
King Street Sounder Station
If anyone is looking for a @LimeBike_SEA, there are a few available near 4th & Jackson…nice placement. pic.twitter.com/qoY5zngFeY
— Seattle Beer News (@SeattleBeerNews) August 11, 2017
What were you doing down there?
Discovery Park stair cases
Current winner for weirdest place to find a LimeBike: in the middle of a huge staircase at Discovery Park pic.twitter.com/5d1TvXpZxb
— nick woods (@hiyayaywhopee) August 7, 2017
This bike in Discovery Park might be difficult to ride.
In front of driveways
Dear @LimeBike_SEA, does parking them anywhere include in front of a parking garage door? #Limeing #Seattle pic.twitter.com/u6cwutsR0B
— Rebecca ❣ (@rebowers) August 15, 2017
Photo by Max Rose
Well, pinning cars in their driveways would reduce traffic…
In a tree
@LimeBike_SEA my daughter & I can’t decide if someone is trying to save a bike for their next trip or if this is a new kind of like tree. pic.twitter.com/8VLpalgKx7
— Adam Porad (@AdamPo) August 3, 2017
Impressive or annoying?
In the middle of the sidewalk
Yikes! Time for a street team @Spin_Seattle? (King Street Station fyi) pic.twitter.com/pH6VwMFGuY
— Marley Blonsky (@MarleyBlonsky) July 27, 2017
Impinging on not 1 but 2 handicap access ramps. Good job @Spin_Seattle #bikelitter pic.twitter.com/hyBdaHJ7uo
— Ernest Basset Esq. (@AllFourPaws_SEA) August 4, 2017
Keep those in mind who may need the entire sidewalk for wheel chairs or strollers. This is bike parking, not littering.
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