Providence pumps the brakes on JUMP bikes
By: Brittany Comak
Email: BComak@abc6.com
Twitter: @BComakABC6
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – You won’t be seeing anymore JUMP bikes on the streets of Providence – for now.
The City of Providence, JUMP parent company UBER, and sponsors Lifespan and Tufts Health Plan announced a joint agreement Thursday to suspend the program until further notice, while they work on ways to improve it.
The suspension comes after police say people have been using them, most recently, to commit crimes.
“I think this program has merit, it’s a good program. It’s out of control,” said City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan on Thursday.
Some are not happy with the decision to pause the program, as they use it as a means of transportation.
“I think it’s a shame they’re removed because they were good use to some people,” said Elizabeth Winnard.
“That was kind of like a primary way of transportation for myself,” said a Providence resident.
The city says they plan to, “Explore options to enhance security mechanisms for the system and to promote responsible ridership.”
According to a spokesman from UBER, people have been breaking the GPS monitoring system on the bikes making them no longer able to be tracked, or paid for, and many have been vandalized.
“But then people were also like trashing them,” recalled one resident. “I’ve seen people abusing them pretty badly.”
Majority Leader Ryan says she understands they are an affordable means of transportation for many, but that the program needs work if it’s going to adequately serve the public.
“The fact that bikes are being used to commit crimes in our capital city is horrific,” said Ryan. “I think the company has a duty to control their bikes. It’s their program. And the council is going to hold that company accountable.”
Some riders say it’s unfortunate that the few, have to ruin it for the many.
“Sometimes people just don’t know how to have something good,” said one rider.
A spokesperson for UBER says they remain committed to operating in Providence, and that they are hopeful they can return some bikes this Fall.
Majority Leader Ryan also said that the council is still waiting on a report analyzing the program from the city administration.
A top priority for next month, she says, will be a public forum on the JUMP bikes to address resident concerns.
WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019
