The public bike share system you're working on is ingenious, and one that I'm sure a lot of people will be interested in. When did you get involved in the project? What made you concentrate on a social bike system?
I began working on SoBi in October of 2008. I looked at the European bike share model and thought that I could create a system that is more efficient and affordable.
Are there any plans to charge for the service? Or will you be charging for the iPhone application to interact with your systems?
We plan on offering a $10/month subscription and the iPhone and Android apps will be free.
Will the location of the bicycles be monitored? If so, what kind of man power or technology do you think you will need to do so?
Each lockbox is equipped with GPS so we will be able to track the real-time position of each bike.
What kind of security systems do you use on the bike locks? We know this is the part of the bike system that you are testing in the Fall, and are very intrigued to see what kind of system will keep the bicycles safe.
Any lock can be defeated with the right tools and enough time, but the SoBi lock should be strong enough to resist leverage attacks or theft by use of a saw or bolt-cutters. You can view a video of our working prototype at
http://vimeo.com/15571591
How big do weather conditions factor into where you deploy these systems? Are they safe everywhere or just in the relatively warmer, dryer areas of the globe?
I personally bike year-round in New York City. Copenhagen has terrible weather in the winter but some of the highest rates of cycling.
How closely are you tracking the habits and destinations of the bikes? Have you considered any marketing that ties in with such habits?
We plan on using the bike data to optimize our system and allow cities to better plan bike infrastructure. The data is also very valuable for marketing and advertising purposes, and we are working on a solution that protects user privacy and limits spam.
You mentioned current costs of "bikeshare" applications cost between $3000 - $4000 dollars a bike. What are the current methods and why do they cost so much?
Costs for Bixi and B-Cycle now approach $5,000 per bike. The proprietary kiosks, docking stations, and bicycles contribute to the outrageous price.
How does your system reduce the cost to less than $1000 per bike? Why is it currently so steep?
We've designed a lock that can work with almost any bicycle, which allows each city or university to choose a model that is right for their conditions and budget. In addition, the lockbox can work with most bike racks, which makes parking more affordable and allows racks to be shared with private bicycles.
Can your bike share system be used on something other than an iPhone so it's potential customers aren't limited? The Android operating system can equally match iOS, and would expand your possible consumer base immensely. Will we be seeing an Android app in the future?
We will have both an iPhone and Android app for the beta test. Additionally there will be a WAP site for other mobile phones and an unlock request can be made directly from the keypad on the lockbox.
Assuming things go well, when do you anticipate your bikeshare system spreading to other areas of the United States?
We expect commercial launch in the Summer of 2011.
Why do you think it has taken America so long to progress to bike sharing?
The bicycle is seen primarily as a recreational device in America, but that is changing.
Do you plan on taking your bikeshare technology to other counties?
We've already seen interest from around the world - Japan, Australia, Greece, Italy, Ukraine. Worldwide expansion is definitely part of our long-term vision.
Can we expect any other products from SoBi in the future?
We are incorporated as Virtuous Cycles. SoBi is our first product but we hope to eventually have other sustainability-related offerings.
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