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Inside Bratislava's Low-Cost, Open Source Bike Share Solution

Posted by Soulskill on from the trusting-people-not-to-be-jerks dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Bike Kitchen started WhiteBikes in Bratislava after a failed attempt by the city to finance a similar program. At first users shared donated bikes with the same lock code. They needed a system that would work somewhat automatically without the need for manual rentals (e.g. somebody giving out bicycles). From there, smsBikeShare was born. Users registered with a mobile phone number and could send basic SMS commands (RENT, RETURN, FREE, WHERE, etc.). The system used an inexpensive SMS gateway API and a local message-back number to receive and respond to messages. Shared bicycles have a coded U-lock with a four-digit number, and upon renting a bike, users receive a code to unlock the bicycle and another to reset it to once they are done. Send a message, receive the answer, unlock the bike, reset the lock, and you're off pedaling.

6 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. For me a bike is a personal thing by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2

    If I can't ride my bike I will walk or take public transport.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
    1. Re:For me a bike is a personal thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      But with bike share you can do both - I have a friend who walks a block to a bike share stand, rides it to the DC metro, then grabs another bike share for the last few blocks to her office. For commuting, it can be super convenient.

  2. Not here by Sowelu · · Score: 2

    Am I just having a really, really cynical day today, or could this never work in the USA because people are much bigger jerks here?

    1. Re:Not here by Paco103 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't know that it's just here. I think most people are good and honest, but there's enough assholes to ruin a program like this for everyone. They'd have to have credit cards attached or something, or it would be a matter of weeks until someone either stole or destroyed them all. Unfortunately it would be the .01% of people that would ruin things like this for everybody!

    2. Re:Not here by SirSlud · · Score: 3, Funny

      Even when it involves being jerks, Americans think they're unique. ;)

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
  3. Links that should have been in the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    video: http://opensourcebikeshare.com/how-it-works

    code: https://github.com/mmmaly/OpenSourceBikeShare