Divvy Temporarily Closed for Snow
Just got this email, so don't plan to ride Divvy home today:
|
Divvy | 711 SE Grand | Portland | OR | 97214 |
Views: 7785
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on
-
I have no axe to grind against Divvy. And in general I think Divvy was worth the cost even if the cost was unfair. The superior technology, tested bicycles, and overall know-how should not be undervalued. The expectation that the system will run during Chicago winters when it is unprofitable is also worth a lot. My problem is with the shutdown. I don't buy into all the hypotheticals and parallels used to justify the shutdown because they simply do not reflect reality. The shutdown has also set a very bad precedent with a very low barrier to future system shutdown.
As for calling the cost extreme, I think it's accurate. But that doesn't mean I'm against it. Sometimes quality costs a lot. What I am against however is being ripped-off.
S said:
Why do you have an axe to grind against Divvy? Extreme cost of divvy? An annual pass costs $75 which is less than a monthly pass to the CTA. The system costs about $22-30 million which is a lot less than the $2.5 billion the Illiana tollway is projected to cost or the $425 million for the red line station reconstruction on the south side. The city budget is around 3.5 billion so the divvy system is less than 1% of that. Hell, I'm pretty sure that the patches that the city did to the LSD over the fall cost almost as much as the Divvy system.
Tom Dworzanski said:Exactly. Except Divvy (Alta) doesn't really save money. They make a profit. The more they shut down the more profit they earn get.
I was under the impression that the whole point of justifying (what I call) the extreme cost of Divvy was the great 24/7/365 service we would get, even when tourist revenues don't justify being open.
-
Permalink Reply by Rich S on
-
If they extended your membership by the 48 hours or so it was unavailable would you still feel ripped off?
I get that Divvy saved some cost by not having to maintain the system for two days but some specific figures to back up your claim that they're profiting in the thousands would be nice. And if they extend everyone's membership by two days then it's a wash since they won't gain revenue for an additional two days on everyone's membership renewal. I haven't heard that they will extend people's memberships but it would be the right thing to do.
On page 11 of this discussion you say "The more they shut down the more profit they earn get." By this logic they should just pack up and leave town today and never conduct business again.
Tom Dworzanski said:I have no axe to grind against Divvy. And in general I think Divvy was worth the cost even if the cost was unfair. The superior technology, tested bicycles, and overall know-how should not be undervalued. The expectation that the system will run during Chicago winters when it is unprofitable is also worth a lot. My problem is with the shutdown. I don't buy into all the hypotheticals and parallels used to justify the shutdown because they simply do not reflect reality. The shutdown has also set a very bad precedent with a very low barrier to future system shutdown.
As for calling the cost extreme, I think it's accurate. But that doesn't mean I'm against it. Sometimes quality costs a lot. What I am against however is being ripped-off. And no, not 21 cents. The thousands Divvy profited from this little experiment.
-
-
I don't care about the 41 cents / 2 days (though it would be a nice gesture). I think Divvy should refund* CDOT (the city) the pro-rated cost of 2 days of service. It will be a five-figure amount**.
* When I say refund, I mean a substantial refund represented by not being reimbursed the costs typically claimed during winter days and not having those amounts "massaged" into operations of other days. Really, there should be a penalty but I don't see one skimming over the contract.
** The contract sets a first-year Operations and Maintenance budget (this is after $5000+ per bike, the $5,200 per station, startup, and installation are paid) of $7,837,356. $7,837,356 / 365 * 2 = $42,944.42. If we figure the bikes at the actual $1,200 cost the amount would be six-figures.Rich S said:
If they extended your membership by the 48 hours or so it was unavailable would you still feel ripped off?
-
-
Is the first year operations and maintenance budget funded purely by tax dollars or does it include revenue from memberships, daily passes, late fees, etc? I don't know.
The $43K daily figure is a good start to quantifying this. However it assumes that maintenance costs are the same every day. You would think they are higher during peak periods since the bikes require more maintenance and crews have to more frequently shuffle the bikes around from full to empty stations. It would also include overhead. Even though they're not out doing anything they still have to pay office staff, rent, bills, etc. They are still incurring cost.
I think Ventra is way bigger fiasco than this. Hopefully we can all agree on that!
Tom Dworzanski said:I don't care about the 41 cents / 2 days (though it would be a nice gesture). I think Divvy should refund* CDOT (the city) the pro-rated cost of 2 days of service. It will be a five-figure amount**.
* When I say refund, I mean a substantial refund represented by not being reimbursed the costs typically claimed during winter days and not having those amounts "massaged" into operations of other days. Really, there should be a penalty but I don't see one skimming over the contract.
** The contract sets a first-year Operations and Maintenance budget (this is after bikes, stations, startup, and installation are paid) of $7,837,356. $7,837,356 / 365 * 2 = $42,944.42.
-
Permalink Reply by Bill the Cat on
-
Tom, because the reasoning behind the shutdown doesn't meet you standards is not sufficient to dismiss whar Divvy considers the best thing to do in such circumstances. My gues is that yheir macro view completely trumps our micro views of what the system looks like. Also, we really don't know what they are thinling. Thete may be sone kibd of plan being hatched to give all of the current membership ...something, we really don't know. I love how this thread has turned into a virtual feasting on the evil Divvy & how they ripping off the good hearted people of Metropolis. While it is good to hold their feet to the fire to keep everyone honest, give them a minute to get back up & running. Or fold up & leave town. Whichevrr is more profitable
-
-
Thanks Anne Alt. And Happy New Year to you, too. You know... The Dudess abides!
-
Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on
-
They should stock a winter version.
I understand though, the balancers job is quite hazardous due to the aggressive drivers they have to deal with when loading up bikes at the stations.
in it to win it 8.0 mi said:Wonder if they could equip each Divvy with a small snow plow?
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on
-
Well...they did say they" were taking special steps to ensure the system is ready for a
Chicago winter"
Anne Alt said:+1
ad said:Divvy made it clear months ago that they had they reserved the right to suspend service temporarily "in very extreme weather." http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-29/news/chi-city-hall-di...
How is this a surprise to anyone here now??
While a predicted lake effect snow storm that could dump up to a foot of snow (on top of the 6 inches we already have received in the past 24 hours) and up to 25 mph winds may not be "extreme" to some, it's not like they shut down for a predicted light dusting. In fact, though we've already had more than a few snow storms, this is the first time they've shut down--suggesting they'll only do so if its predicted to be serious.
I, for one, intend to cut them some slack.
-
Permalink Reply by ad on
-
These are the type of comments that kill me and keep me coming back to comment. The snowstorm we experienced yesterday (and the day before that, really) is the largest amount of snowfall we have received since the 2011 blizzard. I'd venture this past storm also ranks up against the majority of snowfalls we had between 2011 and the extreme blizzard before that.
My point is that if you're saying Divvy wasn't justified in shutting down for what they terms as "extreme weather" for a period of time during the worst snowstorm we've had in 2 years, then you are in effect saying they should never have the right to shut down for snowfall alone--absent a 2011-level blizzard I guess (and I even doubt you wouldn't be on here chastising Divvy if it had existed and shut down during that storm).
It's fine if you believe that, but your view goes against what Divvy made clear from the start of announcing winter service, and goes against what you agreed to in your annual membership contract when you signed up for yearly access.
Tom Dworzanski said:I don't buy into all the hypotheticals and parallels used to justify the shutdown because they simply do not reflect reality. The shutdown has also set a very bad precedent with a very low barrier to future system shutdown.
-
Permalink Reply by pistola on
-
These extreme weather conditions is something that came up in the discussions when Citi Bikes were first being installed. What CitiBikes came up seems like a good idea, but whether it would work here in Chicago is unknown. Any stations that are located on street would be relieved of bikes and some bikes would be retired. The salt trucks would be able to plow all the snow onto the curb and bikes wouldn't be stranded there in dirty snow the next day. Riding home today I saw at least one station on Wells that was nearly covered in this filthy snow. Businesses near a CitiBike station were directed to move snow beyond the station. Maybe some signage will be needed, though most likely not heeded.
Divvy needs a better plan for these 'extreme' events. For their bottom line as well as our customer satisfactin.
-
Permalink Reply by Thomas Bruzan on
-
I guess the real difference of opinion here is that some equate Divvy with renting a kayak or a gym membership, rather than a commuting option. I'm in the autumn of my life and remember mom putting bread bags and boots on my feet and sending me off to school in the blizzard of '67, the 78-79 snow was pretty wet and heavy. This "storm" was just a fluffy snowfall typical to our climate. I'd bet good money that the parking meters weren't shut down for three days due to this "extreme" weather. I'd hate to see a really great idea just become 25 million dollars worth of girls bikes to ride along the lake, rather than a real transportation option.
Groups
-
Critical Mass discussion
262 members
-
Chicagoland Beer Explora…
203 members
-
Chicago Randonneurs
269 members
-
Walk Bike Transit
63 members
-
British Bicycles of Chic…
172 members
© 2008-2016 The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.
Powered by
