I just became a SoBi member in Hamilton for $15/month (unlimited rentals up to 60 min use per day).
I just walk up to the bike, punch in my password code, and the bike is automatically rented.
All SoBi bikes have built-in GPS trackers, and has a built-in LCD screen to do reservation right on the spot (by entering your code).
I see them on the map on my phone, too. And I can reserve via phone too, as long as I pick it up quickly. I see SoBi stats and usage reports too.
They all have electronic U-bars built into them, so you can lock to a parking meter or stop sign, etc -- anything is a SoBi bike dock!
I'm starting an experimental
SoBi+GOtrain commute, about once a week for now, and may ramp it up. Take a bike to one of the Hamilton GO stations (West Harbour or Downtown) and catch a GOtrain. And also to take advantage of the non-stop PanAm express train (Toronto-Hamilton with no stops) for my return home.
What's neat is that SoBi puts all the electronics into the bikes instead of the stations. All bikes have a GPS tracker built into them. The stations are just cheap dumb racks where new station locations can be fully funded via community fundraising (I think maybe $1000). I signed up when a neighbor parked a bike at a stop sign near my house. And it was there ready to reserve. I notice I can just park a bike overnight near me (+$1 fee) and usually it'll be next to me the next morning, before a different subscriber takes it.
Signup was fast, and I could walk up to a bike less than 5 minutes after signup. No deposit was needed (bikes are GPS tracked, theft resistant). That was much faster than BIXI membership, who mails you an RFID key first or charges you a temporary deposit until you return the bike.
With only 700 bikes, but much cheaper stations, it
more stations than Toronto does, and covers a bigger area. Plus people park bikes off-station so I can rent them closer to my place if somebody parks a bike closer to me than the neareset station. And I can do the same, as long as I park within the SoBi GPS geo-fence. Unlike with BIXI-type systems.
I want to support the expansion of the system even though I already own 3 bikes. I just don't want to commute by bike in both directions (weather can be bad on the return commute) -- or bring my bike onto a rush-hour GOtrain. SoBi is perfect for that as it allows a 1-way bike commute,
park and forget. I sometimes stay overnight downtown, so I don't have to worry about bike theft. I can do the return trip by bus, car pickup, taxi, future LRT, or whatnot. Or get a different SoBi.
It's impressive how big an area Hamilton's new bikeshare can economically cover with just only 700 bikes, and still provide a way for bikes to be nearby (
by allowing you to "dock" off-station).