paula4sheff   10 #493 Posted May 4, 2018 That's fine, I usually don't look or focus on things like that. Its non of my business.  If there is someone suspicious handing out stuff to homeless on edge of city last thing I do is check if the yellow bike has a lock on it or not. I cant see that from a distance.  But you can do it if you want. Why do you get so investigative when you see other people dealing drugs? These bikes have little to do with Sheffield's drugs or homeless situation.  They probably aren't 'homeless'. There are very very few rough sleepers in Sheffield. Last check was under 20, which is very few spread across the city the size of Sheffield.  There are however a LOT of people who will tell you they are homeless - they aren't.  It's actually very hard NOT to be housed here. There is a good system set up, and there is really very few reasons to be homeless here.  Please don't be fooled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
alsatian   10 #494 Posted May 4, 2018 (edited) the locks dont seem to be broken. they seem to be missing.  It's just a few security bolts. If you have the right tool the lock will come away from the frame with ease.  If the metal lock is also through the wheel I guess that probably needs grinding / sawing off.  I might have got into the scheme had the bikes been better designed. The seat doesn't go high enough (and I'm not particularly tall) and the easiest gear is nowhere near easy enough for some of Sheffields hills. Edited May 4, 2018 by alsatian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
John_S6 Â Â 10 #495 Posted May 4, 2018 I've never used one of these bikes, but I noticed that there's one curiously tucked away out of sight at the back of my workplace. Thought it was a bit weird and downloaded the app and it doesn't actually detect this bike even when I stand right next to it (it shows others nearby). Doesn't seem to be a lock on it so I suspect it may be being used by local ne'er do wells so I might ride it away and leave it in a public place to annoy them. I'd ride it back to my car but it's mostly uphill so forget that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
hackey lad   3,824 #496 Posted May 4, 2018 It's not that hard to see and also to see what's going on.  Said it before on this thread , seen them around the cathedral regularly . Anyone who denies this must walk round with their eyes closed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
jane2008   15 #497 Posted May 4, 2018 The scheme is very well designed. so well in fact that OFO are upping the amount of bikes in sheffied dont forget, these bikes are mass made down to the lowest possible spec. i would guestimate the manufacture cost of under a tenner. they really dont care if a bunch of them get mashed by idiots.  So well that they don't care about one I've reported to them as being abandoned and lock free  Am I supposed to now just go and dump it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
monkey104 Â Â 10 #498 Posted May 4, 2018 Why bother doing anything with it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
dutch   68 #499 Posted May 5, 2018 Why bother doing anything with it?  Exactly.  However some of these bikes are left in places where it looks like litter. Even when bikes with locks are left after being used properly, they can be left in stupid places. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
WalkleyIan   10 #500 Posted May 5, 2018 well done to the two midwives who used OFO bikes on the "call the midwife" chart ride today. In fact, well done to anyone getting around the route in full vintage costume on a warm day  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/callthejessopmidwivesbikeride Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Guest   #501 Posted May 5, 2018 Seen quite a few being used by drug dealers to get around Sheffield to pedal their wares to the homeless beggars on the streets. So a big thank you to OFO for making the begging homeless drug problem in the city centre that bit more worse.  Facilitation is not the same as causation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
katkin   10 #502 Posted May 11, 2018 think we've got a problem? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-china-43999482/the-problem-of-china-s-huge-bike-graveyards  saddens me to see the OFO bikes being destroyed , dumped or stolen around Sheffield. Most of the ones actually being ridden have been tampered with... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
RootsBooster   24 #503 Posted May 12, 2018 There's a couple of days a week when it would be really handy for me to use one of these. Every time I try to find one though, there are either none showing on the app, or the ones that do show aren't actually there when you get to the location.  It's even more frustrating when the location is showing inside a building. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
alsatian   10 #504 Posted May 12, 2018 The OFO mountain:  https://static.lexpress.fr/medias_11686/w_600,h_600,c_fill,g_north/v1511793781/numerous-shared-bikes-piled-up-in-xiamen_5983514.jpg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...