Decobike (Miami, Miami Beach, South Beach: car rental, rental, credit card)

[hurricaneMan1992]

"Decobike" is soon coming to Miami Beach, with 1000 bikes spread apart in 100 "bike stations" (Google it and/or read the Herald article).

My favorite quote from their website: "Locals & Residents purchasing a membership subscription enjoy a one-time, reduced deposit of $185 which is fully-refundable." I don't know about you, but I would hardly "enjoy" putting up this kind of deposit. Especially as it's not clear what conditions apply to the "fully refundable" part. Oh, without a membership, expect a $350 hold when you rent the bike for the free initial half hour period. That's comparable to a car rental or hotel room hold! Want to rent twice for a free round-trip? Well, that's a $700 hold!!!!

Just be forewarned if you're considering traveling to Miami Beach and using the service.

I do see other potential issues with the program, but let's first see what you all think.

[Schrodinger's Kittens]

Montreal's BIXI public bike system works in a similar fashion. If you use the day pass they put a $250 security deposit on your credit card, so it's similar to Decobike in that regard, but if you have a monthly or yearly subscription BIXI waives the security deposit. Odd that Decobike should insist on the security deposit for subscribers. That's not a user-friendly option. Neither is the six-page rental agreement. And you're right, there are a lot of things they don't cover. For starters, I'd feel better about it if it gave a receipt when you dock the bike at your destination, like Montreal's system does.

But I think that in theory it's great, and I hope it takes off. Anything that makes Miami more pedestrian/bike friendly and eases traffic problems is a step in the right direction, and there are parts of this county that are a lot of fun to explore on a bike at a leisurely pace.

[hurricaneMan1992]

A waived deposit for regular users would make the program much more user friendly. But here are the issues I can come up with:

1.) The program does not come with any means of making the streets of Miami Beach more bike friendly. You're just adding 1000 bikes to an already congested grid (sidewalks included!). I wish we really were making Miami more bike/pedestrian friendly, but this is not the case...
2.) As a motorist on the beach, you will see even more cyclists breaking traffic laws, and more congestion and potential accidents. As a pedestrian, how often does a cyclist using the sidewalk warn you when they approach from behind?
3.) From a cyclist safety standpoint, how many riders are actually going to wear a helmet (which is just as much FL law as wearing a seat belt in a vehicle). Not many SoBe tourists travel with bike helmets.
4.) The potential of having to "search" for a bike station with enough space to return a bike, in the case of an event in South Beach...and probably going over the 30 minute grace period in the process.
5.) Lack of interest?? Granted CD is not necessarily a representative sample, but only one post so far?....hmmm.

[boxus]

Only 16 and under must wear helmets.