News

March 20 2018
7 Mobi by Shaw Go myths busted

Thinking about riding Mobi? Do you have something that's holding you back from trying Mobi? Perhaps you are not alone. Here are 7 common misconceptions that have come up since we launched, and what you can do to overcome them. 

That’s a logical point many people bring up. However, do you never use a taxi because you already own a car? The beauty of Mobi is that it’s a bike when you need it and one when you don’t. Mobi is great for one-way trips, particularly if the rain has now stopped or if you are meeting up with a friend and won’t need your bike for your entire journey. With Mobi you also don’t need to worry about bike maintenance, storage, or theft - especially since “Vancouver has the highest bike theft rate per capita” (BIV, 2016) in Canada.


If you purchase a 24 Hour Pass, 90 Day Pass or 365 Day Pass you get unlimited 30 minute trips included in your pass. This means you can take as many 30 minute trips as you want. You can always extend your trip if you need to, however overage fees do apply. You can get farther than you might think in 30 minutes. In fact, most Mobi trips are 18 minutes or less. The main reason trips are limited is because we need to ensure bikes are constantly flowing through the system. If riders are taking trips for hours at a time, bikes wouldn’t be available to share.
 

This will depend on your travel needs and habits. $9.75 for a 24 Hour Pass doesn’t make sense if it’s replacing a single bus ride, but it’s certainly cost effective when you compare it to a taxi/car share ride or to offset the time spent walking. A Monthly Pass will cost the equivalent of a dinner out, a yoga class, or three grande cappuccinos.


The beauty of bike share is that you can be spontaneous with your trips! Grab a bike from any station and drop it off at any other station in the service area. You do not need to return your bike to the same spot you picked it up. In fact, only 7% of trips taken start and end at the same station. 

You may not live in the service area, but what if your work, friends, or other activities are in the area? Transit does not usually take you directly where you need to go. Mobi works well with transit as it’s perfect for your last mile. Mobi stations are located every 2-5 blocks in the service area to help you get to where you need to go, faster than walking. Take the train Downtown and bike to Gastown much faster than if you had to walk there.


Mobi was implemented for Metro Vancouver locals. Bike share is ideal for short, one-way trips – getting from point A to point B. For those interested in trips longer than 30 or 60 minutes, we recommend visiting a local bike rental shop. People who benefit from Mobi the most have integrated bike sharing into their daily lives, similar to how Vancouverites have adopted walking, transit and car sharing. Mobi is another great option for getting around. 

Thanks to the City of Vancouver’s 2020 Greenest City Action Plan and Transportation 2040 Plan, Vancouver continues to invest in and build safe and convenient bike lanes and infrastructure. Plan your route before you get on a bike so you can roll through most of our service area almost entirely in protected bike lanes or on neighbourhood greenways. You can find more information on safe cycling here.