Some newest ebikes are desperately "claimed" as personal bikes in a (selfish) way or why else?
I came across a few newest ebikes like the one shown below with QR codes that were scratched/covered by marker and bike ID numbers that were ripped off. Regardless of the motivations, what are your suggestions in this situation?
- Key fob can be handy, but I see that the orders are pending and that there is still a supply chain issue. I look forward to getting an update on this.
- Can we use the kiosk to get a one-time-use ride code associated with the account to undock?
- What is the Citibike card option on the right of the bike docking station?
- Should/can we report this by pressing the wrench symbol to stop the bike from undocking by anyone immediately? I guess this may be a double-edged sword as it can be pressed mistakenly sometimes, but then should we report this in the app? It seems like the bike repair request in the app is not specific and that by the time the technician gets there, the specific bike can be already undocked by whoever "reserved" it.
- Any other way to undock the bike when the QR code and the bike id number are not options that I may not be aware of?
Please advise. Thanks!
P.S. For future reference, it may be useful to add the ebike info in the app (sth like Bixi has done below).
Thank you again, amandaxmei, for calling attention to this issue with these bikes and for including this photo. Our team is committed to curbing misuse of the system, and I forwarded this feedback internally to the teams that investigate issues like this.
I can imagine this would be a very disheartening thing to come upon, and I apologize that this was your experience today. To address your questions:
- A Bike key would be helpful, as riders don’t have to input a bike number at any stage of use. Standard bike keys are currently sold out on our site, but I hope to be able to share some good news about Bike Angels bike keys soon.
- Kiosk are designed for non-members or travelers, and your membership wouldn’t be tied to your ride if you unlocked using a kiosk.
- To my knowledge, Citi Bike Card unlock isn’t currently being supported, although that dock has the tech to support that feature.
- If you encounter a damaged, lost, or vandalized bike and the bike number is visible, the best option is to contact our support team and provide the station location and the bike number. In cases like this where you’re unable to view the bike number, press the wrench button on the dock. Pressing the wrench button on the dock will alert our Operations Team that this bike needs attention, and will make the bike unusable until our teams comes to inspect things.
- While, I understand this isn’t ideal, without a bike key, there isn’t a reliable or simple way to unlock a bike in this condition. That said, instances like this are actively being investigated to minimize misuse and ensure the system is healthy.
Lastly, thank you for the screenshot of your Bixi app. I agree a battery life indicator would be an improvement, and I’m sure the Citi Bike Product Teams would agree, as well. I hope to see some version of this eventually. I think it would be a win for sure!
Keep your feedback and questions coming! 👼
