« A Milestone! | Main | Bicycle Safety »
September 14, 2005
The Portland Bicycle: Could it Actually be a Service?
A lot of the commentary on past posts about the Portland Bicycle (a locally manufactured entry-level commuter bike) has opined that we can't get the quality we want at the price point ($300 or under) that we're aiming for, and what we could produce for that price isn't anything anyone would want to ride for very long (i.e., as they became more experienced they would want a better bike).
So let's re-conceptualize the problem. We want a way to get a non-cyclist (or very casual cyclist) to make the leap into commuting. If we don't think we can build a quality bike at a price point low enough to help ease the transition, can we do it another way?
If the bike you want to ride when you start is not the bike you want to ride after 3 months of experience, could we turn this into a leasing program? You could start with an entry-level bike and then have the option to trade up later, or have some kind of credit for purchase of something else. Then we could take your entry bike and turn it around and lease it to another beginning cyclist.
We could bundle the lease with service options. A quarterly tune-up and all repairs included? How about roadside assistance (that should calm the folks afraid of flats) - you wouldn't actually need it that often - and how much could it cost to have Speed's towing pick you up and drop your bike at the nearest bike shop?
What do you think, could we define a leasing program with easy terms as a way to get folks into bike commuting? What kinds of services would make this attractive?
Posted by Chris Smith at 5:42 AM
Comments
September 14, 2005 9:32 AM
Kent Says:
I actually think this is a great idea. The only way to really make it work would be to partner with the local bike shops. Because they are the only facilities available that can fit, adjust, and service bikes. I would think they would benefit from the program as well to the extent that it brings in new customers who'll still be needing to buy accessories such as helmets even if they're leasing the bike. And the local shops will, of course be the ones who'll be selling the upgraded new bikes to the riders who decide to move up to the next level.
September 16, 2005 7:50 AM
Peter W Says:
One very attractive feature of the leasing system is that people could lease a certain type of bike (say a road bike) for a few weeks to a few months to try it out, and if they find they don't like that style, they can lease another one at the end of their lease period. That is just like the car-lease model.
Another possibility is to say "you can lease a bike" from us, and allow them to switch bikes during the lease period so they can try out different types and find what works best for them. Because the biggest reason that folks don't think a $600-$1000 bike is affordable is that they aren't sure if it will work out for them in the long run. Letting them know that even though they're shelling out XXX bucks for the lease they can still switch around to find the right bike will go a long way to ease their worries. The service cost of letting people switch around could either be delt with by factoring it into the cost of the lease, or a small amount like $10 could be charged every time they switch.
