San Antonio B-cycle program fails miserably

CyberBob: I challenge you to retry your bcycle experience. Last night 7/10, a date and I had dinner at la gloria, whereby we proceeded to the bcycle station at the pearl. It was SO POPULAR only one of the 18 possible bikes remained. Now it must have been working for somebody...we had to drive down to SAMA just to rent one and when we did, it worked! Did you try going down to South Alamo / St Marys and try there? As someone who has had 2 fantastic bcycle experiences and thinks we as a city are lucky to have such a cutting edge program, don't you think bcycle deserves another change? (PS, you might want to consider toning down your title a bit...this blog is one of the top google search results for 'san antonio bcycle hours'. Of those on this board who have negative blah blah blah comments, how many of you have actually tried the bcycle program?

Considering the fact that the city of San Antonio is one of the fattest city in the United States, someone seriously miscalculated the market when they put the bicycles in San Antonio and charged for them. If there was a coupon for free McDonalds with the purchase of each rental, success would have been guaranteed.

I've used Bcycle for 3 months and have logged over 110 "trips." On 6 or 7 of those trips, I've had problems with the stations. Most times it's because the system looses internet connection but mostly it comes right back up. I've used Blue Star every couple of days and it has always worked so not sure if the service rep gave the correct information. Of course the two days in a row I had trouble with the one across from Rosario's I was as frustrated as Bob. After my first 60 trips, I posted this blog about my experience here: http://bit.ly/jPQNhs

I've used B-cycle for 3 months and have logged over 50 "trips." On 4 of those trips, I've had problems with the stations. Most times it's because the system looses internet connection but mostly it comes right back up. I've used Blue Star every couple of days and it has always worked so I’m not sure if the service rep gave the correct information. Of course the two days in a row I had trouble with the one across from Rosario's I was as frustrated as Bob. They did give me free extra time to find another station. I also agree it’s tough to explain the 30 minute limit to new users, but after riding a lot I now understand how it keeps the system moving. Plus, if you have an annual pass (currently on sale for only $25) then it’s just $2 to have a bike out for a whole hour. Here’s a blog I liked that gives a more well rounded account of the B-cycle experience: http://bit.ly/jPQNhs

Ph D - If you're riding a B-Cycle that often, don't you use your B-Card? Not a credit card?

the b-cycle has it's flaws and there are some people that just can not try a system for fear it is going to cost them something extra. B-cycles where paid for with the stimalus money from two years ago and it needed to be used or given back. i for one would use the cycle system if i did not have any bikes but i have two and really enjoy ing one one day and the other the next. BUT as i stated earlier in this blog you people must or can't do exercies due to your inability to get up from the computer from being SOOO FAT.

there are a lot of city and company supporters commenting on how great this program is for the city. thanks for letting the people of S.A. know how our tax dollars are being wasted!! this b-cycle program must of gave someone in our city a LARGE KICKBACK(money).

Dear CyberBob, Your frustration in 'undocking' the B-Cycle is evident. I'm not certain which Sunday you were there but here's the last two Sundays I was there and I was able to 'dock' and 'undock' my B-Cycle in both the morning and afternoon. 7:44 PM 07/03/11 Blue Star 7:55 PM 11 minutes 07/03/11 Main Plaza 11:57 AM 07/03/11 Blue Star 12:02 PM 5 minutes 07/03/11 MPO 6:28 PM 06/25/11 Blue Star 6:39 PM 11 minutes 06/25/11 Market Square 10:26 AM 06/25/11 Blue Star 10:39 AM 12 minutes 06/25/11 Market Square Your 'secondary' sources on the system being down for days does not appear to be reliable, possibly deserving one of your "FAIL" ratings?

CyberBob;…….Put the blame for the boondoggle right where it belongs. Former CIO Richard Varn of Des Moines, Iowa used his position with the City to promote his lifestyle/hobby and we pay the price. . Riding a bike in Des Moines Iowa (pop 400,000, average summer temp 75 degrees) is nothing like riding downtown in SA. Sculley blindly supported him and his goofy ideas and for the past two years covered up the fact that he lied under oath and was at the center of the illegal cover-up here at ITSD. She makes excuses for all the other blunders he made to hide the waste and fraud. http://www.ripoffreport.com/government-services/city-of-san-antonio/city-of-san-antonio-texas-re-2c64e.htm http://www.flickr.com/photos/18400551@N04/

http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Bike-lanes-now-in-fast-lane-for-S-A-847695.php “Richard Varn, the city's chief information officer, is an avid cyclist who loves a challenge. In addition to guiding the city's use of technology, Varn requested last year that City Manager Sheryl Sculley move the bike coordinator position to the Office of Environmental Policy, which he oversees. WHERE IS RICHARD VARN???? OH-------- HE QUIETLY SNUCK OUT OF TOWN AFTER HE WAS CAUGHT LYING UNDER OATH IN COURT TO HELP CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH KLEIN, HIDE DECADES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INSIDE THE CITY’S IT DEPARTMENT…..