bike-share

Sharing is caring

Post published:May 10, 2019
Post author:philip

I've written a bit about the sharing economy before, such as Uber meets Pretty Woman and Transportation technology and the unknown. Yesterday I was walking in Bnei Brak, a city near Tel Aviv that is partly an ultra-Orthodox enclave but also has large industrial sections. I was in the more industrial area when walking past a bright yellow bicycle locked to a barrier. A bright yellow Ofo bicycle locked to a curb barrier As I passed by I noticed the bicycle belonged to one of the large bicycle-sharing companies, Ofo. My first thought was that it was odd to see a normal lock on a shared bicycle. I thought maybe someone had used the bike and then padlocked it so they would be sure to be able to ride it again when they needed. As I looked closer I noticed that it was missing the electronic lock and the QR code on the back that would allow a user to unlock it using an app. No QR Code above the 'Scan to go' text My assumption at this point was that Ofo must had exited the Israeli market and sold off their bikes without the electronics. Sure enough a quick…

Transportation technology and the unknown

Post published:June 12, 2018
Post author:philip

Vertex Ventures Automotive Map 2.0

"When I was a kid" is the beginning of many a discussion on how things were better in past generations. Obviously, obviously, it was better to play outside than to watch television. The effects of technology on people, such as how using social media affects our brains is a common discussion point today. Are we living in a bubble or echo chamber? These are all interesting perspectives on the effect of new technology on our brains, but there's a more physically visible effect of technology on our lives, and perhaps it illustrates similar effects. One of the biggest categories of tech companies getting funded these days is transportation. Uber's $72 billion valuation may grab the headlines, but other companies like Lyft, Didi, Grab, Ola, Gett, and Go-Jek are all valued over a billion dollars and targeting the ride-hailing/taxi space. As an aside I wrote of the tendency of companies to compare themselves to Uber back when Uber was only an $18 billion company in Uber meets Pretty Woman. For anyone who lives in an area underserved by public transportation and/or taxi service, these ride hailing services have made many people's lives easier. One can argue if the lives of the…