San Francisco Should Have Cheaper Bikeshares. But It Also Needs Smoother Streets.

Potholes are more than just unsightly and dangerous; they threaten micromobility, as well

The Lyft logo is displayed on Lyft bike-share bicycle on August 12, 2020 in San Francisco, California. Lyft reported a 61 percent drop in second-quarter revenues with earnings of $339.3 million compared to $867.3 million one year ago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

I’m fortunate enough to live less than a block away from a Bay Wheels bike station — a coincidental nicety of living in Lower Nob Hill. Five of these docking points exist within just a half-mile radius of my apartment, each one capable of holding around 30 bikes at any given time.

Some of them are boosted by electrons; some require the rider to solely rely on their lower body to propel them. Most of those stations never go empty of bicycles, saddling the edge of the sidewalk when not in use. All of these defined bikes fall under the definition of micromobility vehicles — small, lightweight transportation devices that operate at speeds typically below 15 mph and driven by users personally to navigate urban areas.

This Map Shows The Most Dangerous Places To Bike In SF — The Bold Italic — San Francisco

My otherwise charming 160-square-foot apartment lacks a pleasant amount of sunlight before noon. It’s easy to grow callous in such…