Photo via Spin
A second dockless bikeshare company is launching in D.C. on Wednesday.
San-Francisco based Spin is rolling out 100 bikes this week, and 400 during its pilot period in the city, according to spokesperson Lindsey Schank.
“Our nation’s capital boasts one of the country’s most comprehensive and innovative public transportation systems, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it by bringing a convenient, affordable, and eco-friendly way to get around town,” said Spin co-founder and CEO Derrick Ko, in a release. The company also operates in Seattle, Dallas, and Mountain View, California.
Similar to China-based Mobike, which is also launching today in D.C., Spin lets smartphone users unlock the bikes’ wheels using a QR code. Cyclists can take 30 minute trips for $1 and leave bikes anywhere in the city they would leave a personal bike—much like Car2go lets members leave vehicles in any public spot. Spin bikes are built to self-lock after use.
In the coming weeks, Spin will also provide an option to let people without smartphones and credit cards access the bikes by purchasing a prepaid card at a partner location.
In 2008, D.C. became the first city in North America with a bikesharing system, SmartBike, which was replaced by the Capital Bikeshare program in 2010. The company launched its first mobile app last month.
Capital Bikeshare riders pay $2 to ride up to 30 minutes and are required to park at designated docks, most of which are stationed west of the Anacostia River, though the system says it is adding more docks to Wards 7 and 8.
Both Mobike and Spin say they plan to have bikes deployed in all wards of the city.
Because dockless bikes are new to D.C., transit officials say they will use the next six months to allow companies to come up with rules to address issues that have sprung up in other cities, such as people parking and abandoning the bikes along busy corridors and sidewalks, according to The Washington Post, which reports that a total of six dockless bikeshare companies have expressed interest in rolling into town.
