Greenride Bikeshare Gets Everything Right, Except Bikes

When I first heard the University of Vermont was getting electric bikes on its campus at the end of the 2021 school year, I was fired up. I had never ridden one before but what part of the term “electric bike” doesn’t sound cool? It combines two very exciting words into one phrase, kind of like “free food” or “cookie cake”. The bikes would be coming to UVM and the Burlington area through the Greenride Bikeshare program. As a student without a car on campus, this news was exhilarating. Even though I had a bike, the thought of being able to finally ride back up the hill from downtown Burlington to UVM without using every ounce of energy I had was an incredible prospect.

When the bikes were installed around campus, I was very eager to get my hands on one. I had heard that the bikes were electric-assist and not fully electric, but I had never experienced either type, so I was still very excited. One day I decided to take one out but found that I was immediately repelled by the $99.99 yearly plan that appeared to be the only way to access the bikes. Dejected, I never gave the bikes a fair shot. 

Anthony LaSalle using Greenride Bikeshare’s electric bike.

Now, about a year later, I decided to revisit the electric bikes. As I thought back on my first brief encounter with the bikeshare, there were some expectations I had in mind. Hopefully there’s an alternative to the $99.99 yearly plan that would allow me to pay by the minute instead (there always had been, and plans for UVM students only cost $39.99). Maybe using the bikes is actually incredibly easy if you put in minimal effort (they are). And wouldn’t it be amazing if the bikes make tackling the steep east to west roads of Burlington a breeze? Unfortunately, this is where things go downhill for the bikes.

Before I criticize the program, I do believe the bikeshare has a lot going for it. For one, it is a cheap and accessible way to get from one place to another. The pay-as-you-go option that I originally overlooked is a great way of letting people try out the bikes for the first time and take a short, inexpensive trip. The app that goes along with the bikes couldn’t be easier to operate and is one of the most user-friendly transportation apps I have ever used. Mine was set up within a matter of minutes and once I entered a credit card, I was ready to harness the power of the bikes. I unlocked the bike for a $1 fee and pushed off on my thirty-five cent per minute journey. 

The issue with the program is where the rubber meets the road. As I began pedaling, I immediately took notice of the weight of the bike and how awkward it felt. Most rideshare bikes I have used in the past haven’t had the best handling and this bike was no exception. Making a tight turn is virtually impossible. The weight and handling issues are eased by UVM and Burlington’s very high level of bikeability, but when there isn’t a bike lane or a whole lot of space for you to ride, things get dicey. 

Unfortunately, the most disappointing part of the bike is the electric assist feature. Yes, the very thing that drew me into using the bikes made me dislike them the most. The electric assist requires the rider to complete 2 pedal rotations before the bike lurches forward for about a second or two of turbo-charged glory. The first time I ever got a boost, I’ll admit my expectations for the bikes were nearly met. With a false sense of confidence, I envisioned myself conquering every hill in downtown Burlington within the evening without even breaking a sweat. My dreams were shattered as I suddenly returned to normal speed once more within the blink of an eye. To make matters worse for the electric assist, large portions of UVM’s campus deactivate the boost so users aren’t speeding through campus and being a nuisance to pedestrians. At its best, the electric assist sporadically shot me across flat ground at a slightly faster speed. At its worst, it seemed to completely abandon me on the hills when I needed it most. 

Despite all of this, I really do think the rideshare has a lot going for it. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Abby Bleything, the Sustainable Transportation Program Manager at UVM, who was a part of the team responsible for bringing the bikes to UVM’s campus. As a passionate environmentalist, Bleything sees these bikes as a great opportunity to get students to leave their cars at home and utilize the bikes and public transit to fit their transportation needs. Cutting student emissions from car usage is a top priority for Bleything. “We try to expose first years to all of the options other than driving, in hopes that when it becomes their sophomore year, they don’t feel like they have a need for bringing their car to campus” said Bleything. 

Bleything acknowledges the shortcomings of the current electric-assist feature and has some hope to offer for the situation. According to Bleything, a newer version of the bikes will potentially replace the current ones this summer and they will likely have an improved electric-assist feature. This improvement could be the final piece of the puzzle that the Greenride Bikeshare needs to be a highly successful program. I have high hopes for the bikeshare and would be willing to give the updated bikes a ride in the summer.

 All photos by Anthony LaSalle.