re: Lyft's notional purchase of Motivate (Citibike):

Privately-owned dockless (app-based) bike share companies aren't in the business of providing bicycles. They're in the business of harvesting, monetizing, and selling personally-identifiable user data -- from app-compatible smartphones or credit/debit cards. The bicycles are incidental. That's one reason the bikes are poor quality and poorly maintained.

Where street space is limited and every square inch is contested (e.g.: NYC), what's NOT needed is dockless (app-based) bike share bikes randomly scattered hither and yon. Companies offering dockless bikeshare bikes should be required to add new bike racks in the street replacing current car parking. Bike racks shouldn't hog limited pedestrian space on sidewalks. Worst case: if a dockless bikeshare operator fails, the city has gained bike parking.