Boston

Competing Bike Sharing Companies Offer Services in Boston

A new set of wheels is hoping to become the new way people bike in Boston.

The company's called Ant Bicycle and it's a 2-year-old start-up that allows you to pick up a bike practically anywhere.

"There's no dock, so the bikes can actually be picked up wherever and parked wherever," John Gallagher, co-founder of Ant Bicycle, told NBC10 Boston.

Gallagher says you'll pay $1 an hour to use one of their 500 green bikes, but some people have an a problem with this idea.

"I just kind of feel weird about just leaving a bike somewhere in the city," Sophia E. said.

That's an issue Mayor Marty Walsh has with companies like Ant Bicycle.

"Some of these bike companies, they're just dropping in. The opportunity right now is with Blue Bikes in the city of Boston," Mayor Walsh said.

Walsh says companies like Ant Bicycle need to have talks with the city before dropping off the bikes in Boston. The city already has a contract with the Blue Bike system and others feel these undocked bikes shouldn't be left just anywhere.

"It could be kind of convenient but it kind of just takes up space on the streets," Sophia E said.

Gallagher says his team is working towards fixing by adding features to the company's app that shows you where you can legally dock the bikes after using one.

"Use your head when you're done with your ride," Gallagher said. "Don't park the bike in the middle of the street. Don't throw it in the river. Find the proper place to park this bike."

He says he's looking into hiring a fleet manager to watch over the parked bikes. In the meantime, Boston and other cities have already started seizing bikes parked illegally.

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