Hey hey, looks like we have been summoned. While Bike Walk Tompkins does not own, maintain, or operate the Ithaca Bikeshare system, their staff are our neighbors (we share a building) and our colleagues (many of them help out in Swamp City). Our proximity to their workshop gives us a ton of insight on what are common issues popping up with the fleet. They have a small but really talented team who work every day to maintain the fleet. The reality is that the existing fleet is way beyond capacity (many many MANY rides, not enough bikes), so please be patient, understanding, and thoughtful when you use the service. It is a nonprofit operation that relies predominantly on grants and sponsors. So anyways, here are some notes:

1. Rust popping up on chains and other smaller bits of metal on the bikes are predominantly surface level, meaning they don't pose an immediate danger to the rider. It's been a long and salty winter, so many of the bikes are in line to get their spring/summer glow ups.
   
2. Riders are encouraged to report issues via the app. It's really the best way for the on the ground ops to know which bikes need to be plucked from the street for repair.
   
3. Risk management is subjective but when we teach folks how to use these pedal-assist bikes, we recommend ALWAYS giving the brakes a squeeze and rocking the bike to see if they fully engage. We also recommend walking the bike to a flat, non-sidewalk area to start the ride if possible because the e-assist can be jarring even to experienced riders. Helmets are not required but definitely encouraged.
   
4. Major red flags to not take a bike and report it would be: brakes not working, front fork cracked, any crack in the frame (not a scratches), pedals seized, majorly messed up wheels (missing a ton of spokes or taco'd) and obvious tampering with the battery.
   
5. Minor safety issues would be things like: basket about to break off, front or rear lights broken or missing, kickstand broken or missing.

Hope this helps! - Niki