L.A. temporarily suspends Uber’s permit to rent out electric scooters and bikes

Re:L.A. temporarily suspends Uber’s permit to rent out elect... by Jakob on Monday November 04, 2019 @09:57AM (#21442173)

The bikes are built in a way that you don’t want to steal them. They drive down that probability in at least two ways:

Quite heavy and their specific number highly visible.

The lock is nearly unbreakable, a bolt which is locked inside the bike frame. I wouldn’t know of a way to crack this physically without demolishing the bike.

It’s much easier to steal any other bike instead.

I guess the main upside is vastly reduced technical infrastructure costs so you can get over a certain small percentage of stolen bikes after reducing this probability enough.

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Re:L.A. temporarily suspends Uber’s permit to rent out elect... by notyourwork on Monday November 04, 2019 @10:20AM (#21442414)

I watched someone dismantle a jump bike lock last week outside my apartment while walking my dog. Considering that and how often I see homeless riding them in sf, I suspect they are more easily stolen than you suggest.

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Re:L.A. temporarily suspends Uber’s permit to rent out elect... by Jakob on Monday November 04, 2019 @10:34AM (#21442554)

Oh sorry I didn’t mean the jump bikes but the aforementioned DB bikes in Munich: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=call+a+bike+munich

I would be very surprised if someone can dismantle them on the street. But nevertheless if you have another bike right next to it which is worth more, lighter, faster and easier to crack why even bother?

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Re:L.A. temporarily suspends Uber’s permit to rent out elect... by joombaga on Monday November 04, 2019 @03:29PM (#21446132)

Perhaps the thief would prefer a bike that isn't likely to get stolen.

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