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Biketown PDX Reviews — Photo from Twitter. No rights to image claimed. Used under the “Fair Use” doctrine.

Have you tried the new bright-orange Nike BIKETOWN bicycles in downtown Portland? My fiance and I rented two bikes on Thursday July 21, 2016, and here’s what we thought about the BIKETOWN bike share program:

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BIKETOWN PDX Pros

Both the bikes and racks are easy to find, with their bright-orange color.
The bikes are easy for pedestrians and drivers to see, with their bright-orange color.
The bikes are nimble and have excellent steering.
The bikes come with seven speeds, front and rear brakes, an integrated locking system, and even a bell built-in to the left grip.
The bikes are shaft-driven and do not use chains. This is a “pro” and a “con.” The “pro” is that you won’t get chain oil marks on your favorite pants.

BIKETOWN PDX Cons

You’ll either love or hate the bright-orange corals. I think this will largely depend on whether you’re a user of the service trying to find a bike, or someone who’s neighborhood lost parking to the expansive and unsightly rack systems.
The rental of these bikes is very expensive. After only renting a bike a dozen times, one could simply buy a basic cruiser and have it for years.
We both received a warning and a $2 penalty charge for briefly locking the bikes up as we had a light dinner. The bikes apparently have odd rules about how much time you can use them, how much time they can be ridden, how much time they can remain idle, and where you can lock them up.
The bikes are heavy. They are not terribly heavy for riding, but the rear of the bike is somewhat weighted, and you notice it when you try to pick up the rear to maneuver the bike into position (such as when you park the bike or try to re-angle it at a stop).
Non-existent customer service. I tried calling customer service and was in a queue for about ten minutes with a question before I hung up.

The Verdict on BIKETOWN PDX

Only time will tell. Our experience was mixed. This looks like a good system of bike sharing for people who– for whatever reason– don’t own a bike of their own, and who want to ride from very specific point (near a BIKETOWN PDX corral) to another very specific point (near a BIKETOWN PDX corral) without any stops in-between. However, this bike share program is a very poor program for people who want to leisurely ride around town, stop to shop or have a meal, and not worry about the amount of time spent riding vs. idling. For those people, a daily bike rental– or the outright purchase of a bike– would be a much better solution.

What are your experiences? Post a comment below.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]