Inside a Bike Share Disaster - The Downfall of oBike

[@ChrisCoxCycling]

"Share bikes everywhere is such an eyesore!" they cried in unison, on a street lined with parked cars that make it look like a used car yard.

[@chesh1rek1tten]

I mean, they were left all over, it's problematic. But yeah

[@JonathanRockway]

When Citibike was being rolled out in New York, the common criticism was that the bikes "ruined the historic character of the neighborhood". The SUVs that are parked all over, though... those are totally fine. Those existed when New Amsterdam was founded, I'm sure. If I ever become supreme leader of the universe and someone complains about bike share ruining the historic character of the neighborhood, I'll make sure I tow all the parked cars, replace the paved road with dirt, and make sure that there are horses shitting all over the street 24/7. History! It smells. (My honest complaint is that it's a total bullshit reason. Just say "look, the city has given me rent-free car storage for decades, and I don't want to lose that". That's a good argument, though to be fair, probably not one that evokes much sympathy.)

[@MakeCriminalsIllegalAgain]

But don't they have laws there controlling where cars can park? That sure makes things move more smoothly.

[@FAB1150]

@@MakeCriminalsIllegalAgain well, bikes are way smaller and more nimble than cars. There should be one rule, that should be actually enforced: don't toss it around and park it properly. Bam, bike littering solved.

[@jasonmullinder]

cars etc have designated places to be parked in an orderly fashion, the bikes just get left wherever people want to put them

[@KT-ey4xd]

Oh my god, I honestly like this guy’s dedication to not discussing just the topic but also fishing himself a Obike to prove a point that there are still some lost Obikes in the lake. 😆

[@KT-ey4xd]

Then again though, the Obike business had good intentions but people just ruined it. And this is why we can’t have nice things

[@informitas0117]

It was an investor honeypot. They did NOT have good intentions.

[@watson956]

@Katherine Tran - And he got a LICENSE to do it!!!!! :D

[@Funkteon]

Share bike systems only work in countries/regions whereby the vast majority of the population is moderately or highly intelligent, such as Europe and Asia. Australia, on the other hand, is mostly populated by people who are incredibly proud of their lacking intelligence and ignorance, and where hooliganism is proudly displayed. This is why these systems have failed in every single native English speaking country (think about that very short list of countries, then think about the kind of culture that exists in those countries).

[@lws7394]

@@Funkteon Actually in most countries these kind of random 'share bikes' failed . Even in Netherlands. What is typically anglo is the hooliganistic content that even upper/middle class folks take in vandalizing these bikes ( others property !) even on camera. Its an expression of their 'war on bikes ' attitude.. I don't think people would react like that on camera when cars or shops would be destroyed. What the pitfall is with rhese bike programs is that there is no ' returning accountability' to keep them intact. There is no ' ownership' for them , not even by the obije organisation really. In Netherlands there is the OV-Fiets ("transit bike") by the national rail roads. It solves the 'last mile' issue for train travelllers. For renting you need the national transit pas (OV Card) for trains and buses , which is tied to an adress and bank account and the bikes have to be returned to (mostly) train stations ( 21k bikes at 800 stations). Thus creates 'ownership' to return the bikei n a good condition , otherwise there are consequenses.. This could work for Melbourne as well if it were tied to the Subway system , solving their last miles problem ( especially in the suburbs ! ) And it could also be a stimulance to build good parking facilities for private bikes at stations ( 'first mile ! ) And a real boost for bike use !

[@tjejojyj]

Even without the vandalism and helmets there were other problems - The bikes were heavy and had one gear. - then tendency was for the bikes to end up in remote streets where people rode them home, not near stations and places where most people want them.

[@JulianOShea]

All true.

[@cocojeffrey8502]

If the government really wanted to encourage cycling etc why wouldn't they could try what I have seen in Europe. Bike racks on the front of buses, a train carriage for bikes to be stowed, and bike parking in the design of apartment buildings.

[@jderrick1994]

@@cocojeffrey8502 in another Australian territory, the ACT, there are bike racks on buses. pretty cool i thought.

[@scazdog]

@@jderrick1994 + canberra has a big market for e-scooters in the city, along with the cycling culture.

[@shanemorris3554]

All the successful ones have trucks that pick them up and redistribute them so they don't end up with a tonne in 1 place and more in others

[@brontewcat]

I found this really depressing. The lack of respect shown to other people’s property is breathtaking.

[@joyousbloom731]

Same. Not something to be celebrated as a ‘real Aussie’ thing to do. Embarrassing 😳

[@christianmcbrearty]

The people who do this are messed up.

[@IndigoIndustrial]

The sort of people that throw litter on the ground or from a car window when driving. The sort that open a drink in the supermarket, drink it and then put the empty container behind something on the shelf. The sort of people that get offended when you tell them stop sitting on your front fence. Why could the people in the montage not be prosecuted for property offences?

[@christianmcbrearty]

@@IndigoIndustrial luckily said people are a minority. But they deserve to be punished without a doubt.

[@accaciagame1706]

@@IndigoIndustrial The sort of people too dumb to use crypto. They should have crypto locks at docking stations and crypto deposit.

[@KoolKitty100]

the same thing happened in sydney and that montage brings back so many memories of finding obikes in the WEIRDEST places and finding unlocked ones on the street to use

[@brodiekennelly378]

I lived in Melbourne for year just after these bikes were introduced. I had assumed they were always a feature of Melbourne, so it's crazy to find out they came into existence just before I lived there. Your videos are making me super nostalgic for Melbourne!

[@moniquem783]

We’re in stage 4 lockdown again. Feel better? 😂😂😂

[@EatMyShortsAU]

Yeah E-BIkes made their way in to Melbourne back in 1888. You don't sound too bright..

[@EatMyShortsAU]

@@andypandy7769 I was replying to Brodie but okay lol

[@karenmcneill2602]

Obikes might not have been the best but the way people treated them is a disgrace! That is highlighted by the way the people in the poorer countries treated them. I'm quite ashamed for all of those who dumped the bikes.

[@enriquelondres6134]

100% agree

[@SwaggMessiah69]

How did poorer countries treat them? much better?

[@enriquelondres6134]

@@SwaggMessiah69 and that justifies what these guys did?

[@maxtivey32]

@Rustydingomingo Far queue.

[@Endless-fire]

Less walk gave the bike to keep, people tend to look after their property. The obike company gave the bike to lease; People were not able to keep the bike so they had no incentive to treat it well, they lost nothing if something were to happen to the bike.

[@FVPseudo]

PLEASE keep this going. I moved to St Kilda in July and all of this is actually giving me some sense of melbourne culture... which was difficult to find in 2nd lockdown. Quality editing too btw.

[@JulianOShea]

Glad you’re enjoying them. More coming soon.

[@danielcockerill3761]

Melbourne culture is a funny thing. Rich and poor live together in a modern and artistic way. Always out for fun and get away with as much as possible

[@JasonBlack66]

Yeah don't worry about the Working girls, worry about the oBikes :P

[@XTC95]

welcome to st kilda, a great suburb to live in. my favourite for sure

[@danielcockerill3761]

@@XTC95 I just moved to port Melbourne I had no idea what I've been missing

[@officialWWM]

Wait, they clipped helmets to the bikes and were surprised when people stole them? 😂😂

[@shanemorris3554]

IKR! You literally had to lock your helmet to your bike at my school or someone would steal it! Hell, I locked my bike to the rack by the ban when and someone swapped their buckled front wheel with mine! You can't trust anyone

[@shortmemory]

Very Melbournish indeed

[@badaburner]

Would you steal it

[@shortmemory]

I've had two bikes stolen from Melbourne CBD in the last two years. Both locked. I know quite a few people who have experienced the same. That's Melbourne

[@ghazghkullthraka9714]

At least our electric scooters need to be activated before you get the helmet

[@russelldavies1423]

Great videos. It's embarrassing how Aussies love to damage these bikes.Why would anyone do this?

[@azimpetra]

cause they're bored, that's my impression of young Aussies after coming here since 2007. Malaysia is no better, less on the vandal side, more towards previous generation 'trend'. Example: My era, high schoolers used to street race with motorcycles(moped). These days, high schoolers, race with bicycles. While motorcycle race sounds dangerous, bicycles have low visibility, and they race on highways late at night. I hope after COVID, its a fresh restart for everyone.

[@shortmemory]

Too many low class people in Melbourne, that's why

[@bennyc409]

Cause it’s funny. Cause our egalitarian nature tells us that these bikes don’t deserve to take up everyone’s space and block the footpaths without paying for it. But mostly cause it’s funny.

[@Pete-z6e]

@@bennyc409 , perfectly put , reach back and give yourself a pat.

[@meikahidenori]

@@bennyc409 it's selfish and disgusting.

[@nut-xn5ol]

So glad i found this channel! Loved the Montague Bridge one and this one too

[@JulianOShea]

Good to have you!

[@gorillaau]

Melbourne loves the Monty bridge... except the rental truck drivers.

[@douglascampbell4993]

Hahaha! I found the montage st bridge one and this was the follow on from that.. 🤣

[@catherinekong2895]

@@douglascampbell4993 HAHAHAH this is the same path I followed 😂

[@yommyyom]

Those montages are glorious!

[@JulianOShea]

Beethoven at his finest.

[@eleanorchan872]

Agreed! This is what I needed to watch during Lockdown 6.0.

[@wilim9770]

@@JulianOShea Hey man just wanted you too know i have noticed you have mind goblins. Not a big deal but just be aware. Thanks

[@CaptainFram]

poor Chethan, I hope he's doing well haha

[@JulianOShea]

He's doing great. And such a good sport. :)

[@shanemorris3554]

He's hot. Bahaha

[@marnuscoreyempanadaslooseb6760]

@@shanemorris3554 You need help mate

[@Just4Kixs]

@@shanemorris3554 yeah he is kinda cute.

[@Just4Kixs]

He reminds me of Gladys Berejiklian - always positive in faith that the people and the public will do the right thing but alas, it's never good to be too trusting of people. That's why NSW has a mass explosion of Covid-19 cases just how a mass problem came out of oBike.

[@russetwolf13]

I remember back when I saw the first version of this bike share business. It was a garage that refurbished broken bikes and lent them to you for 30 dollars for a month. If you brought it back you got the 30 dollars back. If not you bought the bike already. It worked off donations only and worked beautifully, and the called it Bike library. Everyone saw this wise idea and their eyes filled with avarice, and they wondered how they could monetize this. And they never realized it only worked because no one cared if the bikes came back or if a profit was made.

[@90taetaeya]

Bike sharing is one of the best things to have happened for a city IMO, I’m glad in my country, the bike sharing system works completely well.

[@thairinkhudr4259]

That's wonderful! In mine, they were here 1 year or so before the pandemic, and similar to stories in the video happened, haven't seen it anymore since.

[@Sagealeena]

We have bike sharing in Melbourne again! Two main companies were given temporary permission to put out electric scooters and bikes. They all have helmets that lock to the bike. You have to take a photo when you park to show it’s not in the way (although they often fall over) and they get picked up every night to change and then put out again in good places in the morning. They are speed restricted and will stop moving if you try to drive them in unallowed areas (some parks, and other areas). I’m pretty sure the trial period ended and they seem to have to have been approved to continue. There’s still issues, and I see helmets left around, but I’ve used them myself and they seem decent. I do think there needs to be some docks for them now, particularly near train stations, so they don’t pile up in high use areas and don’t need to be collected each night.

[@dylanlovell8028]

"as we recreational fisherman say" - Julian, a licenced fisherman for 12 hours

[@massacred666]

Ah, the old faith lost story arc: find a KZbin design channel that shows you how much time, money and thought is being put into fixing issues around the world and feel happy - after 10 videos you see this one and remember how disappointingly self-orientated people are - plot twist: the company turns out to be the bad guy instead - plot twist: some random person steps in to give the same opportunity to poor kids and they're not disappointing humans. Faith restored.

[@43scout74]

This is my new favourite channel. We found about 3000 abandoned bikes perfectly lined up in an empty building site (bulldozed factory) right before Mitcham station on the train line not long after they all started to vanish.

[@pt6885]

This is amazing. The work that goes into your videos is phenomenal. Beautifully produced, intelligent, entertaining. Bravo

[@JulianOShea]

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks, Pete.

[@JustinRichardsonProducer]

Julilan. Chanced upon your channel when looking for local Melbourne content. This video is awesome. well made and a really interesting topic close to home for me. I lived in Beijing when the original phenomenon spread out like a virus to all cities of China, and then across the world. Fantastic to see the bikes repurposed where they are being used. Great fantastic local Melbourne content. Subscribed!

[@JulianOShea]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ZoranAUS]

Watching during lockdown, you got my attention with the Monty Bridge vid, but you got my sub on the Obikes vid. Well done mate

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks, mate! Glad you’re enjoying them.

[@danielcockerill3761]

Same here.

[@jordancole9374]

Found this channel last night and as a former Melbournian now living abroad I really enjoy your content. Gives a little slice of home each time.

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks, Jordan! Great to have you here.

[@albatross27]

Love your presentation and style. It's like if Tom Scott was Aussie and fleshed out his videos just that bit more. Really great stuff mate, please keep it up, I'm learning more about the place I've lived in for 20 years in a few you tube video then 20 years of being here!

[@yep4704]

I'm legit crying at the end of this. The remnants of cynical venture capitalism turned into opportunities for the less fortunate 😍

[@lambsypte4482]

They used Australia for cash knowing it would not take and a few bikes in poor nations is not helping the less fortunate but using them by exploiting them , the same as they did to Australians. I do not support the destruction of these bikes but Australia did not need them and the handful of bikes they gave to the less fortunate was no where near enough. They helped nothing other then themselves.

[@accaciagame1706]

Actually this is an example of why socialism sucks and why individual ownership is better. I've had an ebike for three years now and it looks good as new.

[@lancehobbs8012]

Spoken like an unemployed idealistic BUM.

[@maxtivey32]

@@accaciagame1706 it's not socialism, and socialism doesn't suck unless you're a far-Right f*ckstick.

[@TemplarX2]

@@maxtivey32 He is right. Socialism and capitalism overlap a lot of time. In this case it is the socialist element of the system that lead to failure. Socialism requires some form common social morality in order for a common resource not to be vandalized. Capitalism on the other hand emphasizes individuality and property right. So someone owning his own bike will take better care of the bike than if the bike was commonly shared as humans are morally flawed. Classic example why socialism fails in cases like this. Socialism is not always bad. The Military, police, public school and hospitals are example of socialism.

[@markmushypeas313]

Love a happy ending and a resource given to those who need and will appreciate the resource

[@callumzero]

I've never been so satisfied with an ending in my life. Amazing vid! Thanks ^__^

[@JulianOShea]

Me too, to be honest. :)

[@jamespatrik3701]

Devastated that you failed to mention what the fortnightly Fish e-Facts newsletter was like! I need closure! 😁

[@JulianOShea]

They never sent me a Fish E Fact!

[@kenrobinson5176]

@@JulianOShea Does this mean you have no Fish e-Facts to share with us. I'm sooo disappointed. 😟

[@JulianOShea]

@@kenrobinson5176 No facts. Fish-E or otherwise.

[@BoxiesAU]

A lecture I attended around a decade ago at Uni in economics talked about wealth, with a focus on transportation. You start with shoes, which is what some people can afford, then bikes, then cars, then planes etc. Bicycles in some countries are something saved and saved for like a house, and can drastically increase the standard of living for a family. To think in developed countries we literally had thousands of them not being used and being discarded is pretty sad. The end is a great story and how these bikes SHOULD be used.

[@BenBe]

We've still got them here in NZ and they seem to be well used - we don't seem to have the same dickhead mentality that appears to have cropped up around these things over the ditch. At least not to the degree that the business is non-viable. We also have e-scooters though, which are still illegal in Australia despite their wide use.

[@alexgarland4435]

e-scooters are legal here! I live in Canberra right now and they're extremely popular

[@BenBe]

@@alexgarland4435 Canberra gets all the cool laws, I'd much rather visiting there regularly for work instead of Sydney!

[@alexgarland4435]

@@BenBe only takes three hours from Sydney to come down and test the new weed laws haha

[@TheSRSThunder]

Just chiming in to say Brisbane and a couple surrounding suburbs have these too now :)

[@standardaussie]

Western Vic, couple hours from Melbourne on the grampians foothills👋 E-bikes everywhere! I take mine with me moto riding to ride and explore the local towns after.

[@Nunofyourbusinesses]

Oh I love the result. Thank you for making this video Julian.

[@theonlyenekoeneko]

The montages were really good. I love that you got a fishing license for your OBike fishing adventure!

[@Hebdomad7]

I'll sum it up simply. O'bike dumped bikes on the streets taking up public space without permission. It's no wonder they were treated like trash. Good to see some charity types are making the most of it and getting those bikes into loving homes that will actually make a difference.

[@cocoacoolness]

Lime put scooters all over the streets in Brisbane and there were no problems. The council is now making decidated spaces for them to be put so they don't get in people's way

[@biffaozzie2373]

I’ll sum it up more simply. People are assholes.

[@TimaBee]

The Ode to oBike was a good laugh

[@JulianOShea]

What Beethoven would have wanted.

[@TheMelbournelad]

Lol I forgot how inventive people got with placement.

[@theonlyenekoeneko]

@@JulianOShea indeed ;)

[@HumanimalChannel]

You're a fabulous reporter! Well written well paced good topics humorous but imparting plenty of info. Excellent.

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks so much - kind words!

[@ActuallyDarcy]

Such a great video. I really love your TikToks and didn't actually realise you had a KZbin channel. So underrated, this is gold

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks so much! Glad you’re enjoying them.

[@Curiouscrazy]

Thats a wonderful and heartwarming resolution. Can't stop watching your videos! Love it!

[@JulianOShea]

Thank you so much!

[@giantdroprecords8686]

I just discovered your channel Julian, absolutely love your work! This was an excellent video mate, keep them coming!

[@JulianOShea]

Cheers!

[@Akash5Vaz]

This Channel is gold for anyone living in Australia

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks, Akash!

[@markmonfort29]

Loving the channel for videos like this. I lived in Melbourne during this time and remember seeing on the map that many of them were in the Yarra. OBike fishing became a thing

[@awaleahmed8698]

Great channel i have been living in Melbourne for 5 years and there are many things i didn't pay attention too. Thank you for all that you share with us.

[@780d4]

The answer to your question is the ending, people who need them will respect them. People in Melbourne do not need bikes as they have other transport options therefore the bikes are viewed as joyride toys or something to vandalize

[@Drufi]

Great for tourist tho. I live in qld now and I would use obike today if it was still operating

[@captain_nello]

So many places in Europe had much better transportation options but not this issue of respect

[@Dacommenta]

I don’t know why but I had low expectations for local KZbin videos. This did not meet my expectations. Hilarious and engaging video! So good 👍🤙🙏

[@alexial]

I've been really enjoying your videos! Love the research and detailed explanations. Thanks Julian!

[@JulianOShea]

Cheers, Cheryl - Glad you like them!

[@andrecoxa]

Wow, so much research and so many hours of editing! Excellent work!

[@mikle2129]

Now bright red “Lime” bikes are everywhere in Melbourne - any thoughts on how they’re going to stop these bikes ending up with the same fate as Obike?

[@shannondavidson8069]

I have been starting to wonder this myself. So far I haven't seen anything quite as bad as with the o bikes, but definitely seen some abandoned in inconvenient locations.

[@JulianOShea]

GPS on the bikes would certainly help. A proper maintenance system also.

[@HollyOak]

@@JulianOShea GPS on the bike connected to the last person to rent it. Also refund of part of hire price, only if bike is left at another bike station, encouraging people to return them.

[@Drufi]

Make the refund deposit available ONLY when the next rider hires it. That way they have an incentive to not dump it. But still doesn’t stop the angry cabbies just taking them whenever they find them then dumping them covertly. The answer is to have a kind of car park area for the bikes in each suburb that has video surveillance. Only travel between the bike ‘stations’

[@HollyOak]

@@Drufi If the bikes are attached to a bike station with a locking mechanism, that only unlocks once payment has been cleared, then no-one could just take them and dump them. And if a bike is taken and dumped after this, then it can only happen because the person renting it, dumped it somewhere and they wouldn't get their refund back.

[@vdeng6752]

This is great Julian, love to see the history of Melbourne brought back in such an enjoyable and detailed video.

[@dainah105]

That’s a shame :( electric scooters are working brilliantly in Darwin! Maybe it helps that they stop moving and lock wheels when they get out of a certain area, so they can’t go near water or all end up in the same area

[@lewtdarwin8345]

Loving it mate! feels like it was just yesterday when u were at 1k subs, blowing up !!

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks mate! Feels like that for sure.

[@chompeyboy]

As a Melbournian, that was great Julian. I also enjoyed the Monty Bridge video, been under it many times.

[@JulianOShea]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Johnnie

[@thehairyclevage1645]

Mate, I came across your content by complete accident and I'm very happy I did. it is truly unique and excellent, and you have my respect and subscription. Regards from Dublin.

[@simonpollo]

I love how you keep answering my unasked questions! Keep it going, Julian!

[@JulianOShea]

That’s a great motto for the channel. Thanks :)

[@Liam_219]

I love this channel so much. It’s so good to see a Melbourne based channel

[@rowandaly2826]

I remember Obike! For my schools muck up day (where year 12’s celebrate graduation) they threw Obikes into basketball hoops and canals. Decent idea, terrible results.

[@rarecoast9000]

what positive results were you expecting? i think the only possible results were bad so i'm not sure why you thought it was decent in the first place

[@rowandaly2826]

@@rarecoast9000 chill bruh I didn't invent the obike or anything lmao. I just think its a cool idea, y'know in theory, and obviously a shit fest in practice. in other countries like Singapore it did succeed supposedly so its not really like the only possible results were bad, hence it being a good idea, but it just ended badly in Melbourne

[@rarecoast9000]

@@rowandaly2826 oh i misunderstood your first comment. we’re on the same page, i just thought you meant the muck up day event was a good idea with bad results, not the the o-bike concept lol.

[@rowandaly2826]

@@rarecoast9000 oh haha all good man. yea muck up day is always crazy at school. too bad my year didn't get it this year with covid restrictions :(. anyway hope your doing well, sorry for the misunderstanding!

[@heyitsalix]

Came here to needlessly say I made the same misunderstanding before checking the comments lmao

[@user-oi9to7ux7k]

This video was brilliant. So was your video on the bridge which keeps getting hit by trucks. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. You have a genuine talent for making these videos.

[@michaelmantinaos8330]

I love your Melbourne history videos 2 down many more to go I hope there’s a lot of interesting stories from Melbourne

[@JulianOShea]

Glad you're enjoying them! And there are a lot more stories to come.

[@shi3be]

I knew you on tiktok and was so surprised when youtube recommended this to me. Excellent video! Always love the way you presented things

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks, Thuy!

[@jderrick1994]

me and my partner and friends, usually go to melb for a 2 week holiday each year. we saw obikes absolutely everywhere, we did however use the blue melbourne bikes heaps, the docks near the museum and everything were awesome.

[@samb123]

This is an incredibly underrated channel. Just discovered you and am loving it!

[@namogel67]

Good story and well presented. It's good to see why Melbournians can't have nice things 😁

[@JulianOShea]

Glad you enjoyed

[@roboticzamat]

Born and grew up in Melbourne. Delighted to find this channel! Thank you!!

[@roboticzamat]

Grew up in Coburg in the 90s and this channel really hits the nostalgia spot. Went home for a visit in 2019-2020 New Year's ffs, lol, and can say I didn't expect to be so overwhelmed. So many changes, yet so bloody Melbourne. Love it. Cheers!

[@peternicholsonu6090]

Perfect example of why “ordinary “ people will never live in peace and harmony.

[@hungryfilms3707]

I’m glad this story had a happy ending. Great video

[@HumanimalChannel]

CHETHAN! LEGEND. GOOD JOB MATE, YOU HAD A TOUGH JOB, THE PR THROUGH ALL.OF THIS

[@Blxz]

The Beethoven 9th montages mirrored at both start and end really made this video. Amazing job on this.

[@gamingsuperun]

When I was in high school a friend and I found a way to remove the tracking system for bikes people found lying around the south east suburbs. It wasn't the right thing to do in hindsight but I also don't think the system should be so easily removable that anyone with a set of hand tools could be able to take the bike forever. That being said we saw some interesting custom paintjobs and personalisation of the bikes in an attempt to avoid being seen with a stolen oBike. I've always wondered why they never charged the people dumping the bikes in the first place, every other rental system I'm aware of has processes in place to charge users that damage, steal or lose the rental in question, but I've never used the app itself or read the TOS so maybe there was something in there about this situation.

[@bobbrown8661]

Had someone in my area remove the tracker and use the bike as his daily driver for a few months to go to/from the shops

[@gamingsuperun]

@@bobbrown8661 As bad as the system was the bikes were pretty decent for a cruiser bike hahah

[@sophiehatcher2858]

Very well done story, Julian! And so interesting

[@alexm469]

The montage is what Australian culture is and its beautiful,

[@JulianOShea]

Aussie Aussie Aussie

[@SaintKimbo]

Montages are nice, but please keep the volume levels even, had to turn it up to hear the narration, then get blasted out of the chair with classical music.

[@johnnykeys1978]

Vandalism is Australian culture?

[@petesmitt]

@@johnnykeys1978 if you're a drugged out bogan living on welfare and shoplifting..

[@MissAnathemaDevice]

*frantically looks for photo of obike graveyard just outside of Ringwood* There was an empty block filled with them for so so long. Also, love the channel! So glad the algorithm threw you my way!

[@LXDV]

Haha this channel friggin gold! 😂 Awesome work 👍✌️

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks mate!

[@BenniTroll]

What a great video. From the montage to the breakdown of why this happened.

[@Naiemaa]

I loved the eye-opening twist at the end very well said “turning a first world problem into a third world solution.” There’s many more of those problems...

[@Towkeeyoh]

This vid deserves a bit more love, especially for that happy ending of those villages at the end of the video.

[@sixstringedthing]

Chethan showing up in that t-shirt was a Boss move. 😆👍

[@JulianOShea]

Agreed.

[@markzed66]

Most enlightening. Great vid Julian.

[@TheSalmaGundy]

Just saw the other day on the way to work - Lime bikes on Racecourse Road. Here we go again!

[@JulianOShea]

Fingers crossed this time it ends better… :)

[@vocalpro]

Man what a great channel julian! I love seeing local content about my city!

[@alanchow4305]

Glad the story had a happy ending. Props to the 3rd world country guy for doing his part in helping the needy.

[@loafered835]

This had a lovely happy ending. Keep up the good work. Love these videos on Melbourne culture.

[@stevereaver]

Same thing happened in Sydney with those bike hire systems.

[@raygale4198]

And in Adelaide, the Torrens is down hill from the city.

[@diondicello161]

Sydney still has onyahbike and Jump Bikes. They work well. No one cares about them anymore except the ones that use them.

[@DanielBerke]

This _finally_ explains the few yellow bikes I saw dumped in odd places when I first moved to Melbourne near the end of 2017-thanks for that! Had no idea what was going on at the time and never heard of oBike.

[@slyfoxie55]

My son has one on his wall it's a piece of Melbourne history. But there were so many bikes it was like a plaque. You couldn't park your own bike because all the bike spots were taken up with friggin Obikes. It just pissed people off seeing them everywhere.

[@jonathantan2469]

There are at least two in the river near my house. In summer, when the water levels are low, you can see a bit of the wheel sticking out. It became a perching spot for a local cormorant for awhile.

[@tcpnetworks]

Good work with this. Absolutely nailed it.

[@Al-of3zp]

It says fast more about the people of Melbourne than the company!

[@Saraseeksthompson0211]

This is so disgusting and infuriating how terribly they treated this initiative. It was a viable option for those needing transportation. It just shows how awful some people are and how they’ll take things for granted.

[@kenneth8477]

People's: "if is not yours, destroy it."🤣🤣🤣

[@kismetau]

Thanks for that happy ending and well done, Less Walk for giving to those who appreciate it the most.

[@paulroberts3639]

Regardless of what you thought of the bikes, there is no excuse for dumping them in rivers & lakes etc. that behaviour is never funny or edgy, etc. Make art installations with them.. that is worthwhile. But the environment is f’d enough without selfish dumping.

[@terrystephens1102]

Thanks for this informative presentation. 😃👌👏👏👏

[@GuyIncognito233]

2:17 I don’t believe that’s a federal law. In NT you do not have to wear a helmet while riding a bike

[@deefee701]

Loved this. Subscribed. This is Proper Journalism.

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks mate!

[@taryth.]

Seems like a lot of factors ended up spiraling into a huge disaster. The helmet problem stands out as a big one, as the bikes are technically unusable without them, or you will get fined, etc. Having some helmet chain system might have helped, but there's also hygienic concerns with any shared equipment. The company may have been fishy, but people can also just be terrible too. I feel like it was released on too wide a scale, without enough support, carried some usability flaws, which cumulated into people just treating the bikes like trash. The yellow color probably didn't help matters either. Add in media focus and a bandwagon effect, and you've got a citywide oBike vandalization initiative.

[@mauharley]

People treated the bikes like trash because they were trash. Unless you lived in Melbourne you wouldn't understand how unsightly it was seeing yellow bikes lying on nature strips and footpaths. The system was flawed to the extent that people wanted to punish the company as they saw fit. And that was to destroy the bikes.

[@Itsthatguywiththings]

I can't believe I just discovered your channel now. Fantastic!

[@JulianOShea]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@brettmcmahon7263]

Love your channel, keep up the interesting work. O bike, are we over privileged spoilt brats trashing the bikes & wrecking our environment? Funny the kids who ended up with the bikes in 3rd world countries aren't throwing them at train's or decorating their house, no their riding them to school or for enjoyment & really appreciate having them. Society as always turns the table & say's it's not our fault our kids are riding the bikes off piers, it's the corporation that we invited to invest in our city, their making money so it's their fault. Give us a break, every company & government is out to make money, it's always about profit. So too blame a company for the behaviour for the lack of peranting skills of our society is pretty poor. Remember the kids still need a $69 deposit before they can trash the bike. Julian I do like your channel & this story was well researched, there's a couple of channels I've just found on KZbin that do similar fishing to what you did only they use magnets. They call it magnet fishing & they do it in Britain & of course bikes are the last thing they find. Finds range from handguns, granades or mediaeval swords. So maybe you might want to try magnet fishing in the Yarra & see what you come up with? Good stuff mate.

[@brettmcmahon7263]

Ps Julian. My rant wasn't aimed at you or your channel more at 3AW & the channel 7 s that turns these reports into a end of society article. Thanks again, keep up the fascinating content 👍🇦🇺

[@JulianOShea]

Cheers, Brett! - Thanks for watching glad you’re enjoying them.

[@zacnat12]

Oh what a fabulous story. It had everything, highs, lows, intrigue, suspense, ripping tale, action, violence, and lots of humour. Just BRILLIANT 👏 👌 But best of all a very happy satisfying ending.

[@Dug6666666]

Give them to people who appreciate nice things, well done that man.

[@michaelturvey8658]

Just found this channel and I really love it! So great to see australian history and culture represented in this format

[@JulianOShea]

Thanks, Michael - glad you’re enjoying it!

[@wespro1]

Brisbane is having a great success with bike and scooter sharing. Melbourne is just feral.

[@mg8642]

Did you even watch the video? Melbourne has other bike systems that are successful and the obike was dumped in every country it was in.

[@sixstringedthing]

Yeah, how's the bike/scooter sharing thing going on the Gold Coast? Exact same problems as obikes in Melbourne and Lime bikes in Sydney.

[@joejoe8472]

Great vid, When these bikes were first brought into the country they were stored at the old Daniel Robertson brickworks site in Nunawading, there was acres of them. 😵‍💫

[@SahitDagani]

1st world problem into 3rd world opportunity!

[@londubh2007]

I loved the montage Ode to oBikes. Just brilliant.