Bike share options continue to grow in Dallas

The number of bike share options continues to increase in Dallas and shows no sign of slowing down.

OFO is the fourth company in the last several months to move hundreds of bikes into Dallas, and they may not be the last. Ofo joins three other companies -- VBike, LimeBike and Spin.

While some cities opt for docking stations, which cost the city money, these are all dockless bikes. That means a rider can rent, ride and leave the bike at their destination.

Most people FOX4 talked to said they love the transportation option and convenience. But others said they're growing tired of seeing bikes in odd places.

“I think it's really fun,” said rider Amy Juba. “I've been on a couch to 5K running again, so I ran all the way down to Victory Park and I was really glad to have the bike share at the end of the trail.”

C.L. Williams wants to see some bike share program changes.

“Everybody is not being neat and then it messes with the city,” Williams said. “I think there should be a certain drop off point, not that they can just leave it anywhere.”

Anthony Fleo is the operations manager for LimeBike, which has 1,500 bikes so far and plans to ramp up to 5,000 by the end of 2017. Fleo said teams are not only dedicated to tracking usage and redistributing bikes, but fixing them and responding to customer complaints.

“We have we think this is a great service and overall it's been really well received. We just need to help people understand how to do it responsibly,” Fleo said.

Robin Baldock, with Friends of the Katy Tail, said the group is hopeful people will get used to the bikes and know what to do with them.

“We do wish people would be more respectful when they are parking the bikes after they use them,” Baldock said.

The Dallas transportation manager says it's taking a market-based approach, allowing companies to set up shop before considering regulations. Councilman Lee Kleinman, chair of the transportation committee, said he anticipates it may come down to two companies that ultimately survive.

The bike share companies seem to get how important is to make a good impression.

“We want to be good neighbors and good partners to the community,” Fleo said.

Councilman Kleinman said he doesn't expect his committee to revisit the issue until the spring, enough time to give the companies a chance to operate and address the issues.

People who need to report a busted bike or one left in an odd place are encouraged to use 311, as it alerts the city and the bike company.