While LimeBike’s rapid expansion has brought thousands of bikes to dozens of cities across the U.S., not all dockless bike share operators have found success. Bluegogo, the first dockless bike share system to launch in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy in November. In order to compete with Ofo and MoBike, fellow Chinese competitors with much deeper pockets, Bluegogo grew at an incredible pace. At its peak, the company’s 350,000 bicycles could be found everywhere in China. It seemed poised to disrupt San Francisco’s bike share system, nearly dropping thousands of bikes before dialing back plans and ultimately pulling out of the U.S. The company collapsed late last year, shutting down after falling $30 million in debt and struggling to repay customer deposits.
But what happened to all those bikes? Most have likely gone China’s bike share graveyards; however, 4,000 bikes in the Bay Area have found their way to a commercial auction website, West Auctions. Bids start at $5 for five bikes. The aluminum cruisers come with three gears, built-in lights, solid rubber airless tires, and a front basket.
It’s not everyday you can buy a piece of unrealized Bay Area transportation history. These bikes aren’t exactly top of the line, and who knows what kind of shape their in. Nevertheless, they’re basically brand new, and could make for an alluring purchase. For less than the cost of two gallons of gas, you could buy a set of bikes for a whole family. A generous buyer or could start their own free bike share system – the auctioneer may even throw in some Bay Area-specific marketing materials if you ask nicely.
Get those bids in!
Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Andy is a highly recognized wrongful death lawyer in California.