Bike points.....

[Suzi123]

Hey everyone!

I'm just doing a little market research into a developing idea! I am a biker which is why I've been asked to help with this!

The basic idea would be a set of lockers at lots of different biking hotspots, they can be previously purchased through an app or hired on spec when you arrive. They will contain phone charging sockets and specialised padding to keep that helmet safe and clean!

Personally I think it's a great idea, there's nothing worse in summer than arriving at a destination and wanting to explore but having nowhere secure to store anything! They will also be located near changing facilities. Also potentially cafés and places that do awesome food! Possibly at campsites also for you guys who are touring.

I would love anyone's feedback on this idea and you can spot any potential problems! Also if you have any questions that I can answer let me know!

Suzi

[wr6133]

You forgot to add the local pikeys will make a career from breaking in to them and extracting the phones and gear.

[Knacker]

Not sure Id wanna leave my iPhone, keys, helmet in a Locker made of Tinfoil whilst I stroll along the beach eating a 99
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[sidewinder]

That's what would concern me security.would these lockers be insurance company approved just in case ?

[Amber Phoenix]

Interesting idea, but a couple of things:-

A lot of bikers have a top box which they can leave helmet(s) and gloves in.

I rarely need to charge my smartphone during the day. I'm not using it whilst I'm travelling (on the bike) so it doesn't go flat.

Changing facilities IMO would be more of a selling point. I wouldn't want to turn up at a posh restaurant in leathers.
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[covent.gardens]

Exactly, unless it's behind the desk at reception or something then I'm not leaving my stuff in there, I will carry it with me, if you are going to make that work you need to be able to convince people it's secure and have the confidence to take responsibility/insure for if things do go wrong. I think you'll have a huge struggle with that.

People have, or should have, external battery packs that they can charge their mobiles from these days if going on a long trip. They're cheap, and only small thus easy to carry on/with you.

[map]

As pointed out above you will need these in a secure, CCTV covered location.

The Moto service stations I think did something similar for bikers in the entrance lobby. Not sure if they still do.

I'd think it depends on the location. I know places like York Hospital have tin boxes for people to put push bikes in. Haven't seen any damages so assume they're secure.
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[Knacker]

[Suzi123]

I can assure they will not be made of tinfoil.... I would like constructive criticism please.

For those of you who did reply with some sense thankyou very much! This is exactly what we need to here.

We are also looking at the idea of including local business's into this too. For example a popular pub. Therefore security would be tighter and CCTV link would be installed.

I also have a top box and a set of panniers, it's not always possible to fit both sets of helmets and leathers in there if for example we are going for a meal and wish to change.

Thankyou for all of you reply's keep them coming!

Suzi

[stinkwheel]

They used to do this at some service stations but then they stopped in case a terrorist left a bomb in them.

Every time the security threat level went above a certain level, they stopped people using them. Same with bicycle lockers at railway stations.
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[Cadbury]

Hmm... "market research" "developing idea"...

In the spirit of BCF "Is it Uni project time already?!"

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/864116480/hA2994ED2/

As a serious answer to your question - I think you'd have a big problem with security. For example - Mr. Thief comes to you and rents a box - how is it locked? A key so he can go and get a spare cut, and come back when someone else uses it? Combination? again, make a note of the code - chances are it will be a while before the code is changed. Electronic lock - Big infrastructure on changing codes, power outages etc.

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice idea, but if I want to go anywhere where I don't want to look like a 'biker' i wouldn't take the bike, or stuff everything in my topbox. Otherwise, I'll just carry my helmet.

[map]

[wr6133]

[map]

[wr6133]

[Sparkss]

as a response to keys getting cut I went ice skating recently and they had a central touch screen which you put a quid in, answered security questions and it automatically unlocked a locker, you put your stuff in then you came back to the screen later to unlock it.

I would pay £1 to store my helmet and jacket, no more. Putting a phone in a locker defeats the idea of having a phone in the first place.
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[daemonoid]

[Knacker]

[Suzi123]

Again, thankyou for the feedback, it's very helpful.

I believe that most of you are assuming I am some sort of university student doing a degree.... Well you would be completely wrong. You are all probably assuming my age and gender to, Suzi is merely a nickname for my Suzuki bandit. I do not give away personal information when working as it affects the results and people are more likely to comment based upon preconceived judgments.

I understand all of the concerns that are being put forward and they are things the company is looking into and can hopefully find answers. They would be similar to the ice skating lockers idea however a lot more secure and the codes are potentially going to be given through the app service. The software for this is available, expensive but available.

Once again thankyou for comments and opinions, they are all greatly appreciated.

Suzi

[map]

FWIW there are similar boxes for the delivery/return of parcels...

e.g. - both from Meadowhall, I'm sure there are others...
Collect Plus Parcel Point
My By Box - promo video on how it works here

So dropping off packages in these doesn't appear to flag up any security / terrorist issues. IIRC there is a set of boxes near one of Meadowhall's entrances so plenty of pedestrian traffic / potential fatalities if bombs involved.

<edit>
Maybe you've just given these businesses and idea and another form of revenue income?
</edit>
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
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[Bendy]

I don't think you'd find the demand to justify the construction, and as seen in this thread so far the people who might use it are expecting uber security and cameras, which is going to cost even more money.

I can look after my own phone charging and will either lug my helmet with me, stick it in a topbox if I have one or just chain it to my bike. I don't see it as a problem that needs solving, to be honest.

[CaNsA]

[chickenstrip]

The idea doesn't interest me as it stands (with the very little info you've given us here). How many places do you think you'd have these "strong boxes"? The changing facility idea - how do you set that up? Again, how many box locations are likely to have this? What kind of interest have you had from would-be supporting businesses/locations? And a million other questions of practicality, costs, etc. I just can't picture how this would work.

You say biking hotspots. What, cafes, tea huts, bike dealers? These are often some of the very few places where I'm happy to leave my biking kit with the bike anyway. What's to explore at such locations? Personally I do my exploring by bike anyway, going to places where there would be no facilities, only stopping for refreshments at the bike meeting places. If you could set them up at National Trust properties for instance, where I'd rather not walk around in bike gear, that would interest me. Or, for example, if you could have a number of locations around the outskirts of London, or other towns/cities so I can ride there, leave bike and kit and then jump on public transport to go explore/do the touristy bit.

This is not to slate you for the idea - I'm no good at such business projects, so kudos to those who come up with such ideas that can be made to work, and wish you success in the venture. But would defo need to know much more about it before I could either give a proper opinion, or say whether or not I'd be interested in using such facilities.

[Teflon-Mike]

I don't own a smart phone. Many don't, you know.

Meanwhile, Smart-Phone charging sockets in the lockers?

Those in this household that do have under-chin lighting with added communications functionality......You wouldn't pry them out of thier cold dead hands with a crow-bar!

Mere suggestion that they put it down so have to hands free to carry shoppingbag and open a door, makes them go white as a ghost.

It has to be under thier chin ALL the time; just in case it bleebs with a tweet or face-book update or something of utmost life shattering import regardless of how realy truly important, whatever they are actually doing, in the real world may be!

Carrying stuff on a motorbike? Well, motorcycles have been about about ten times longer than smart phones, and people have evolved real solutions to real problems that did not need an 'ap'. Top-Boxes and panniers imedietly springing to mind. Not big enough for all the stuff you want to carry? Buy a bigger top box, or paniers, or add a tank-bag, or cut down on the clutter you REALLY dont need to be carting around, or you might as well take the ruddy car!

Need to charge smart-phone, or even a basic little brick like mine, on the move, or keep a sat-nav powered up if you cant read a map, or, or, or... well, pretty simple to wire a fag-lighter socket to the battery of most bikes.

Yeah... you got me when you followed "market research" with "purchased through an app"

I spent ten years as a lone mechie in the snake pit of electronics factories, trying to talk 'common sense' to nerds that lived in cyber-space inventing ever more sophisticated solutions and then looking for problems they might solve.... "Look, just make the buttons big enough I can press them with my fingers, rather than having to hunt out a ball-point pen!" "Yaeh! Great, I dont ever have to press in a telephone number... you do realise that a telephone number is only 9 digits long, so would only take ten prods of the ball-point; your 'phone book' takes three prods to open, two more to tell it to 'search', and THEN as many biro prods as telephone number digits to enter the first three letters of who I want to calls name... don't you? WOULD be quicker to just type the number in!"

Motorcyclists make up less than 5% of the motoring population, and account for barely 1% of motor-vehicle journeys. You are looking at a facility for an incredibly small number of people; who would likely use it incredibly infrequently, if at all.

I mean, stick the 'ap' issue to one side. If I had real need for secure two-helmet and gear, storage... I would (and did) buy 50L top box. Problem solved. Not going to use your lockers.

If I don't have such regular need for 50L top box... then, compromises are made; less kit is taken, stuff gets carried; a hold-all gets stuffed under resturant chair, or barman asked to stick hat behind counter.

First rule of design; before asking "Why Not?" ask "Why So?"

What is the problem? Why is it a problem? Is it REALLY a problem? Does it NEED a solution? What solutions already exist? Do they work? Is a better solution really needed?

"Oh? A locker! That's a neat idea!" If its where I happen to be. Top box is a sort of locker, and will be where I happen to be. While Coin op lockers are no novelty; in every swimming baths and gym and gawd knows where else.

Its re-inventing the wheel, and trying to market it by 'ap'... we get back to that ap, in the end dont we?

What else can we stick in the Apple store and get under-chin lit idiots to give us money for! Fools and their money are soon parted... all you need is a gimmick.

I just dont think this is one, really.
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