paula4sheff   10 #661 Posted July 13, 2018 sorry to disappoint you but it turns out a few Sheffield vandals are insignificant in OFOs global restructure  https://cyclingindustry.news/ofo-scaling-back-operations-around-the-globe-uk-staff-let-go/  Sounds like 'restructuring' might simply mean 'going bust' then..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
SheffDon   10 #662 Posted July 13, 2018 I was speaking to a friend at the university who has been involved with the OFO operation - Sheffield isn’t the only place where vandalism has occurred, it was just the BBC media who went out of their way to make Sheffield sound like the capital of vandalism. OFO are downscaling their Operations to major cities in the world only to places like London, Paris, Milan etc. After announcing the withdrawal from Sheffield, a few days later, they announced other towns/cities in the UK and other parts of the world. I think Cllr. Jack is trying to encourage another operator to come up with a replacement scheme. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Penistone999   10 #663 Posted July 13, 2018 Is it actually an OFO bike or just a regular one painted yellow to celebrate the TDF or TDY? http://photosofyorkshire.com/yorkshire's-yellow-bike-tour  It is one of the ofo bikes, still has the wheel lock thingy on .  ---------- Post added 13-07-2018 at 22:05 ----------  How about reporting it to Ofo?  Nah, its much more fun waiting to see if they can find it through the tracker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
metalman   21 #664 Posted July 14, 2018 I was speaking to a friend at the university who has been involved with the OFO operation - Sheffield isn’t the only place where vandalism has occurred, it was just the BBC media who went out of their way to make Sheffield sound like the capital of vandalism. OFO are downscaling their Operations to major cities in the world only to places like London, Paris, Milan etc. After announcing the withdrawal from Sheffield, a few days later, they announced other towns/cities in the UK and other parts of the world. I think Cllr. Jack is trying to encourage another operator to come up with a replacement scheme.  The University closed down their own (docked) bike hire scheme when Ofo started theirs. Don't think I ever saw anybody riding one of the University ones so it wasn't much of a loss.  Seems a bit unlikely that another operator would open up here given all the adverse publicity about Ofo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Planner1   438 #665 Posted July 14, 2018 The University closed down their own (docked) bike hire scheme when Ofo started theirs. Don't think I ever saw anybody riding one of the University ones so it wasn't much of a loss. Seems a bit unlikely that another operator would open up here given all the adverse publicity about Ofo.  The docked schemes cost a lot to run. Even the London one needs "sponsorship" to cover its costs.  The University one was used, I saw people on them, but it was costly to operate.  There was another Ofo type operator wanting to come into Sheffield after Ofo first set up here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
hicksy3 Â Â 10 #666 Posted July 18, 2018 They didn't operate like a normal company. It wouldn't have cost much at all to send all Sheffield users an e-mail or in app message that they were leaving. Instead we found out through third party news websites. No firm dates given, no nothing. Hardly any bikes left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
WalkleyIan   10 #667 Posted July 23, 2018 heard from the now redundant boss of OFO in Sheffield via a mate who attends the Council cycle forum  OFO in Sheffield had the highest take up of any scheme in Europe in terms of journeys made so it seems people really loved it. They had planned to provide bikes for tramlines as well (like they did for peace in the park)  OFO in Sheffield had the highest number of thefts and vandalism they had ever encountered.  It seems it wasn't just a few kids nicking them. Flatbed trucks were seen going to where they had just seeded a new bunch of OFOs, loading them all up and heading off. They have been taking 100s of them  Number plates and details were passed on to SYP but they weren't interested.  Moot point now that they are closing down operations across many other cities. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Fudbeer   12 #668 Posted July 23, 2018 heard from the now redundant boss of OFO in Sheffield via a mate who attends the Council cycle forum OFO in Sheffield had the highest take up of any scheme in Europe in terms of journeys made so it seems people really loved it. They had planned to provide bikes for tramlines as well (like they did for peace in the park)  OFO in Sheffield had the highest number of thefts and vandalism they had ever encountered.  It seems it wasn't just a few kids nicking them. Flatbed trucks were seen going to where they had just seeded a new bunch of OFOs, loading them all up and heading off. They have been taking 100s of them  Number plates and details were passed on to SYP but they weren't interested.  Moot point now that they are closing down operations across many other cities.   Thats really quite sad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Black Brick   10 #669 Posted July 24, 2018 With the number of professional scrap merchants in the area and beyond the scheme was bound to attract the wrong kind of attention. It is too late now but would it have been worth OFO visiting to see if any had been sold for scrap? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
alchemist   37 #670 Posted July 25, 2018 With the number of professional scrap merchants in the area and beyond the scheme was bound to attract the wrong kind of attention. It is too late now but would it have been worth OFO visiting to see if any had been sold for scrap?  And of course the scrap merchants would have admitted buying them wouldnt they?  Does beg the question though, are there more scrap merchants in Sheffield or are they just more "criminally minded" ones Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Cyclone   10 #671 Posted July 25, 2018 That's a false dichotomy, there's no evidence of "more of them" or "more criminally minded" than anywhere else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
cgksheff   44 #672 Posted July 25, 2018 There are fewer registered scrap metal dealers, per head of population, in Sheffield when compared to many other Local Authorities.  As a starter: 58 in Rotherham and 85 in Sheffield. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...