YES/NO: Would you use this service if it was available to you? Free SAG vehicle on your training rides.
I started a business called Swagon last year; it’s an on-demand vehicle escort for road cyclists to use on their EVERYDAY training rides. All you do is go online, schedule your vehicle, and a driver shows up at your ride to follow you for increased visibility/safety and to be there if anything happens. Riders in Texas have liked it a lot so far, and we can’t keep up with demand. Would you find this useful in your area?
Honestly, it sounds like a pretty bad idea to me. Cyclists have enough problems with motorists thinking we are hogging the roads. Now you want to out a vehicle behind us to completely block it?
Seems like a good way to p*ss motorists off even more.
This was something we were very conscious of as well. Through a limited launch we did over the summer, we found that traffic actually flows the same or better with Swagon. In Texas and many other states, a car can legally follow behind a cyclist in this way. Our drivers are also trained to stay out of the way (on the shoulder) where possible so traffic can continue to flow. The service is not intended to clog traffic flow with cyclists hogging roads, but rather provide protection for small groups and “corral” the larger groups. Cars were usually able to pass small groups the same as if they were riding without Swagon, but they got the benefit of being more visible and motorists often gave them more space during passing. The riders in larger groups remained closer together in general and better obeyed traffic laws, and so cars had an easier time passing them and didn’t get as outwardly mad. Cyclists better obeyed traffic rules and did things like stay single file during riding where possible. When cyclists do unsafe things, we remind them and encourage and educate them about best riding practices. This helps keep motorists happier too.
I can see this taking off. Driver tend to show more respect/care/be more considerate/take more seriously a car escorting a group of cyclist. It creates a sense of an organized group with supervision and responsibilities. Especially if the car has a big sign, something like “cyclists ahead” or something like that.
Good luck…
How much for the swagon to ride just slightly in front of me on long rides?
Seriously though, while it seems like an indulgence for daily solo rides, and increases my carbon footprint, for group rides and “Tuesday night worlds” this seems like a great idea.
Certainly had me confused. Only thing I could think of is that either the Swagon carries spare parts/nutrition to sell to the cyclists (in which case I’d have thought the prices must be astronomical to cover the cost of the vehicle and driver), or else it’s a “try before you buy” type deal.
Without knowing how it’s funded, it’s impossible to say whether I’d use it. If it’s publicly funded (seems highly unlikely) I’d be writing to whoever has the money with a list of suggestions for how it could be better spent on cycling. If it’s funded by selling parts/nutrition, then I might give it a go, but I’d expect the Swagon to be out of business before long. If it’s a service you have to pay for then all depends on cost, but I can’t see it adding enough benefit to justify the price.
Sounds like it is funded by car drivers, as the main described benefit seems to keep those annoying cyclists in line and out of the way of the real owners of the road.
As with SUVs, it is great if you are driving an SUV, but for everyone else who can’t look past/through/over your car, it’s a royal pain in the ass. With this service, cars don’t hassle you: they just get more angry at all the other cyclists without the escort.
Advertisements and partnerships - We primarily get our revenue from advertisement sales and partnerships with local and national businesses. These businesses benefit by reaching an attractive market (cyclists) and being associated with a service that enhances the community. Swagon Premium membership - Cyclists can pay for a monthly or annual Swagon Premium membership, which gives them premium services such as bike tune-ups, nutrition on rides, event discounts, access to partner deals, and priority scheduling of Swagon. Innovative business model that works - The drivers are “crowdsourced”, so they drive their own qualified cars similar to “Uber”. Drivers are extensively trained through our training and development program. This crowdsourcing technique keeps costs minimal for business while still ensuring a high quality service.
**Other revenue streams: ** Affiliate partner sales - Swagon has affiliate partners that offer additional products for sale. If you buy a product from a link on the Swagon website or at a ride, we get revenue from this as well. Organized event fees - The service is provided at select organized events, such as bike events and triathlons, and we charge a fee to the event organizers. Direct product sales - We sell products directly to riders during the service. We offer gear, nutrition, and services such as coaching, bike fitting, and bike tune-ups. Camp fees - We also organize camps where we charge a one-time fee to camp attendees.
Another thought - if the Swagon driver is trained to stay as far over as possible and use the shoulder, how does this impact other cyclists, particularly those approaching from behind? Some of the roads near me on a Saturday or Sunday morning are pretty packed with cyclists of all speeds and abilities, riding solo up to groups of 20 or more. We all get along pretty well, but introducing a car into the mix seems like it could endanger or at least annoy those cyclists who aren’t being protected by it. Especially as your service seems like it would be of most interest to cyclists who are slower, less experienced or lacking confidence, and would therefore be more likely to be overtaken by other riders and groups.
E.g. pack of 10 cyclists being caught by another group of 10 faster cyclists moving at a speed differential of 2-3mph, on a narrowish stretch of road with no shoulder. I see it happen every week. With no car involved, the passing group gets past pretty easily without having to cross the centre line, might need a few warning shouts if the slower group is spread out all over the road, but that’s about it. With an escort car on the slower group, suddenly getting past is a big pain in the ass.
I cannot think of a single time when I would want this.
If I am by myself, I want to be by myself. If I am in a group, then the group has enough visibility and doesn’t need more.
In 15+ years of riding in out of the way places I have needed a sag wagon exactly once.
Other than actually being hit by a car, having a car following close behind me the whole way may be the most annoying thing I can think of having happen on a ride.
