Scooter

Disclaimer

Since the app uses undocumented provider APIs, there might be errors while using the app. As a result, a second device running Android/iOS and the official Bird app should be available, in order to fix any issues occuring during usage.

Overview

This app aims to provide support for unlocking/riding electric scooters and bikes on Ubuntu Touch. The app is built as multi-provider app, and currently supports Bird (https://www.bird.co) and NextBike (https://www.nextbike.de).

Features

Bird

The app provides the following features for Bird scooters:

• Log into an existing Bird account using E-Mail/confirmation code
• Show profile details
• Show scooter locations and restricted areas on a map
• Ring scooter
• Unlock scooter / start ride by scanning the QR code on the scooter
• Show pending/active rides which have not yet been stopped

The app will be able to load existing/still active rides when the app is closed / opened again.

The official Bird app (iOS/Android) will be able to "see" rides which have been started with this app. As such, the official app can be used to stop rides in case of errors/issues with this app.

NextBike

The app provides the following features for NextBike bikes:

• Log into an existing NextBike account using phone number and pin
• Show profile details
• Show bike and terminal locations as well as zones on a map
• Unlock bike / start ride by scanning the QR code on the bike
• Show pending/active rides which have not yet been stopped

Rides will stop automatically when the physical lock on the bike is locked.

The app will be able to load existing/still active rides when the app is closed / opened again.

The official NextBike app (iOS/Android) will be able to "see" rides which have been started with this app. As such, the official app can be used to stop rides in case of errors/issues with this app.

Setup

In order to use the app, please make sure:

• to have an existing Bird account to use Bird scooters
• to have an existing NextBike account to use NextBike bikes

Supported providers

Currently supported:

• Bird (https://www.bird.co)
• NetBike (https://www.nextbike.de)

Other scooter providers have been contacted asking for support/documentation of their APIs. The app is built with multi-provider support in mind, as such, it will be an easy task to add other providers in the future, once the API is known / documentation is available.

Known issues / limitations

Since the app is built without official documentation of APIs, several cases/features have not yet occured (and are thus not tested), or are simply missing in the app:

• parking in restricted zones
• using of voucher codes
• displaying active vouchers or discount codes

Furthermore, for Bird it is currently not possible to display pricing information with the correct locale, before starting a ride. As a result, the pricing information is displayed in USD. The app should, however, always display the correct pricing information when the ride has ended (in local currency). After a recent API change on Bird side it is no longer possible to automatically use coupon codes, e.g. free unlocking which has been purchased using the official Bird apps. When using this app, Bird will always charge the full price regardless of discounts.

For unknown error situations, the app should be able to report error information which can be forwarded to the developer for analysis. Also, in the settings, a log page can be found, which allows to export logs and provide to the developer in case of errors.

License

Copyright (C) 2021-2023

Patrick Fial

Licensed under the MIT license

Copyright notice

• Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

• This app uses the qzxing / zxing libraries for scanning QR codes.