Ford Gobike: Electric Revolution On Two Wheels

Ford GoBikes are electric bikes that were designed by Motivate, an operator of on-demand bike-rental services. Motivate operates in San Francisco as Ford GoBike, in New York City as Citi Bike, and in Washington as Capital Bikeshare. In 2019, Lyft, which operates bike-share systems in multiple cities, found a flaw with its electric-assist bikes and took them out of service. The bikes were removed due to braking issues, with some commuters expressing disappointment and frustration.

Ford GoBikes were taken out of service in 2019 due to a technical/safety issue

Lyft, which operates Ford GoBike, released a statement saying:

> Since GoBike first deployed electric bikes last year, riders have taken hundreds of thousands of rides and shared with us incredibly helpful and overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Lyft also said it was working on a new electric bike, which it was excited to bring to riders soon. In the meantime, GoBike tried to make up for the loss of its e-bikes by repairing and recommissioning some damaged models of its blue, human-powered 'classic' bicycles.

Ford GoBikes were not the only electric-assist bikes in the Bay Area. There was also JUMP, acquired by Uber, Lyft's main rival in the mobile-app ride-hailing business, the previous year.

GoBikes are owned and operated by a ride-hailing service

Ford GoBikes are owned and operated by a ride-hailing service, Lyft, which also operates bike-share systems in multiple cities. In 2019, Lyft took its electric-assist bikes out of service due to a technical/safety issue. The bikes were pulled from the Bay Area's Ford GoBike system, as well as from New York City and Washington DC.

Lyft has since been working on a new electric bike, which it plans to bring to the market soon. In the meantime, GoBike has been trying to cope with the loss of e-bikes by repairing and recommissioning some damaged models of its blue, solely human-powered bicycles, which it refers to as its "classic model".

GoBikes are not the only option for electric-assist bike-sharing in the Bay Area. There is also JUMP, which was acquired by Uber, Lyft's main rival in the mobile-app ride-hailing business, last year.

The Ford GoBike Plus bikes can be located and unlocked using the Ford GoBike app or a Clipper card and docked at any of the more than 300 bike-share stations in participating cities.

Ford GoBikes are available in San Francisco, Oakland, New York City and Washington DC

In 2019, Lyft, which operates the Ford GoBike system, took its electric-assist bikes out of service due to a technical flaw. This decision affected not only the Bay Area but also New York City and Washington DC, where the same e-bikes were deployed. Despite this setback, Ford GoBike remained committed to electric bikes, promising to bring a new electric model to riders soon.

The removal of electric bikes from service prompted discussions about the advantages of electric-assist bikes, particularly in regions with challenging terrain, such as the Bay Area's brutal hills. Electric bikes make bicycling more accessible by allowing riders to go farther and faster. They also help reduce traffic congestion and combat climate change, making them an attractive option for cities aiming to promote sustainable transportation.

In the meantime, while waiting for the new electric models, Ford GoBike attempted to fill the gap left by the electric bikes by repairing and recommissioning its classic, human-powered bicycles. They also shuffled these bikes around the cities to ensure that heavily used stations remained stocked.

Ford GoBike Plus bikes can be located, unlocked, and docked using the Ford GoBike app or a Clipper® card at any of the more than 300 bike-share stations in the participating cities.

Ford GoBikes are pedal-assist bikes

Ford GoBikes were taken out of service in 2019 due to a flaw with its electric-assist bikes. However, they were set to bring back electric pedal-assist bikes in June of that year. The bikes are popular in the Bay Area due to the region's brutal hills, which are made easier with the assistance of a motor.

The bikes are owned and operated by a ride-hailing service, Lyft, which also operates bike-share systems in multiple cities. Uber, Lyft’s main rival, acquired e-bike-rental company Jump Bikes in 2018.

Ford GoBikes are just one option for electric-assist bike-sharing in the Bay Area, with other options including JUMP.

Ford GoBikes are docked to avoid cluttering the sidewalks

Ford GoBikes first deployed electric bikes in 2018, and since then, riders have taken hundreds of thousands of rides. However, in 2019, a flaw was found with the electric-assist bikes, and they were taken out of service as a safety precaution. Despite this setback, Ford GoBike fans were disappointed, especially given the advantage of a motor when tackling the region's brutal hills.

The bikes were missed, and Ford GoBike soon announced that they were working on a new electric bike model, which they planned to bring back into service. In 2021, Ford GoBike ramped up its electric bike offering, adding 600 e-bikes in San Francisco. These bikes can be located and unlocked using the Ford GoBike app or a Clipper® card and docked at any of the more than 300 bike-share stations in participating cities.

By docking the bikes, Ford GoBike helps to keep sidewalks clear and accessible for everyone. This is an important consideration for any bike-sharing system, as it ensures that the bikes do not become a hazard or nuisance when not in use.

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