Mountain of Ride-Share Bikes Left at Dallas Recycling Center After Company Leaves City

[mahatmakanejeeves]

My current daily driver bike came from a trash pile. Had I shown up ten seconds later, it would have been crushed by a trash truck's compacter. Is there some reason that people in Dallas can't dumpster dive too?

Granted, these are hideous bikes, but they're bikes nonetheless.

I see a tremendous opportunity here for the "bikes for the world" crowd, or the "bikes for kids" crowd.

Mountain of Ride-Share Bikes Left at Dallas Recycling Center After Company Leaves City

Ryan Felton
40 minutes ago Filed to: BIKE-SHARING
....

Last month, Dallas officials imposed new fees on companies operating bike-sharing programs in the city, including an $800 application cost for a permit. Several companies left town in response, including Beijing-based Ofo, who disposed of hundreds of their bikes at a nearby recycling center, creating—as you can see—quite a sight.

Hundreds of Ofo’s yellow bikes were seen at the a facility in South Dallas that “works with businesses and individuals looking to sell scrap metal,” reports The Dallas Morning News. Ofo had already announced a plan last month to reduce its presence in North America, but apparently that means ditching what at first glance sure seems to be usable bikes.

Take a look:

#ofobike @junior_miller @dallasbikemess Recycling center. What a waste. The bikes could have been donated to kids and people who are without.

Link to tweet

Terrible. -MR

Link to tweet

The Mornings News said the city’s new fees for bike-sharing operators included an $808 application fee and an additional $21 per bike. Ofo said it had 5,000 bikes in the city at one point, meaning it scrapped all these rides over $105,808.

'Terrible,' mayor says of hundreds of Ofo bikes piled up at Dallas recycling plant

COMMENTARY AT 20 HRS AGO

When Ofo had to play by Dallas' rules, it tossed its bicycles in the trash heap

Robert Wilonsky, City Columnist

[matt819]

1. Are the bikes in working order?

If so, then what's stopping someone - the city, a donor, a local company - from retrieving the bikes and coming up with a plan to get them to people in need, or sell some to raise money to repair others, and then donate the repaired bikes.

Yes, this is fucked up, but I don't get all the hand-wringing and lamenting. Get the fucking bikes and do some good.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I'm with you. I've grabbed some fine stuff from dumpsters.

The city chased me from their computer parts recycling bin. There was perfectly good stuff in there, but rules are rules.

I see a lot of free bikes. Lousy free bikes, but free bikes. Stop complaining, and start diving.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. If you don't like puns, stay away from the comments.

David E. Davis rides again!
Ryan Felton
8/07/18 10:34am
I’m trying to think of a bike joke but I’m two tired.

David E. Davis rides again!
David E. Davis rides again!
8/07/18 10:36am
I guess I spoke too soon.

They keep going.