I use the non-e-bike version of these (socialbicycles.com) on a regular basis and it works quite well. Bikes have GPS, a GSM radio, and are geo-fenced, with a recovery fee charged if you lock outside the zone. My system is quasi-dock based with small geo-fenced hubs within the service area where locking is free, and a small fee ($1)for locking off-hub. People do free-lock or leave them in weird areas, but usually if they intend on using it again.
I think the difference here is a company building a community rather than a community building around a company.
A modern example of the latter is visible in the municipalities clamouring to accommodate Amazon. Time will tell if that one ends in another broken city.
Electronic shifting provides a reduction in the interruption of motive power, so it is not 100% clear cut. The sport governing bodies that be probably had to chew on this from various angles before making a decision.
Fast shifting that doesn't interrupt the flow of power is a big deal. That's why Formula 1 cars do not use "H pattern" stick shifts.
Now we're getting somewhere. Given that these factors are multiplied with automobiles, shouldn't all vehicle speeds be limited so? I am a firm believer that everything should be limited to 30km/h in urban and residential environments where pedestrian and vehicle traffic coexist.
> Given that these factors are multiplied with automobiles
Not a given. At speed, cars handle more securely than bicycles; cars have power brakes, ABS, traction control; modern cars often have automatic collision avoidance systems.
Even automatic collision avoidance systems don't help if a kid chasing a ball jumps out from between two parked cars right in front of your car.
30KPH car-pedestrian collisions are >> 95% survivable. The fatality rate drops dramatically above that speed. Dropping speed limits to 30Kph in areas with shared infrastructure and strictly enforcing them can drop pedestrian fatality rates all the way to zero:
If we had to lower the speed limit to 30kph wherever cars & pedestrians interacted (aka all streets), then magically there would appear money to build separated pedestrian infrastructure like skyways so that politicians could drive faster than 30kph on their routes.
