After experiencing multiple bike share programs in various cities, we couldn’t wait to get one in Honolulu.  Once Biki launched, we figured the least we could do (besides use it) was to help rebalance in our own little way, maybe walk an extra block or two to pick up at a full station or drop off at an empty one.  However, I eventually realized we might be hurting myself long-term doing that–and now I don’t feel guilty for taking the last bike.

Hmm, do my part to balance the system and walk to Old Stadium Park or take one of the last bikes at my preferred station?

The idea of being a “good bikeshare citizen”, choosing a station not just on proximity but also on capacity, isn’t a new one.  Not surprisingly, that’s what Bikeshare Hawaii’s original CEO, Lori McCarney, already does when we talked about the concept with her at the Hawaii Bicycling League’s Annual Dinner back in January.  Given a choice of nearby stations, she’ll go out of her way to pick up at a full one or ride a little past her destination to drop off at an empty one.

This philosophy helped in the beginning, ensuring that space was available where needed for new users just trying out the system.  However, one of the drawbacks of this altruistic philosophy is that the folks running it won’t get an accurate picture of the long-term demand.  If I always want to use one station (say, Pucks Alley) but instead I walk to Stadium Park to keep from taking the last bike, they won’t know about that choice and will underestimate the demand for my preferred station.  Less demand means a lower priority for rebalancing or expansion, which means the problems of a full or empty station will continue.

The Pucks Alley station at King/University, being closest to UH-Manoa, doesn’t seem to have the capacity it needs; sometimes you find it full, sometimes empty.  That’s why I was so happy to find a new station across the street, which I have needed to use a couple times since writing about it.  Those problems should taper off once Biki completes their expansion to the Manoa campus and demand for Pucks Alley drops off.  Come to think of it, I’ll be part of the drop in demand as well.  In the meantime, I’d better go snag one of those last two bikes…