Hackney: Once I got rolling, BlueIndy rocked

For a day at least, I felt like the most popular person in Indianapolis. It’s amazing what some new electric wheels can do.

Taking an inaugural ride around the city Wednesday, the first day BlueIndy, the all-electric, car-share service was available, elicited numerous conversations with strangers, interested stares from fellow drivers, and smiles and waves as I passed other BlueIndy stations around town.

The service was not without hiccups on day one, but it’s definitely a cool alternative for those who want to drive to the airport but want to avoid paying parking fees, those who wish to tool around Downtown for an event and not worry about where to park, or for those who need to make a run to the grocery store.

I woke up Wednesday morning excited to plot my course. My plan was to reserve a car at a station within walking distance from my house and then hit the road. I went to the BlueIndy website to register for a day pass, which included creating a username, password and personal identification number, and then filling out my name, address, phone, number and email. I then had to upload a photo of my driver’s license — front and back — and another picture of myself, what the website referred to as an identity photo. I used an extra passport photo I had lying around.

Online registration took about 20 minutes, and once I confirmed that all my information was accurate, the website said I would receive an email or text message to tell me my documents had been verified and that I was free to go. I then tried to reserve a car at the location near my house, but the website said I was unable to do so. Hmmmm.

I waited, realizing that city officials and the Bollore Group, of France, were holding their kickoff festivities at 11 a.m., and the cars probably wouldn’t be available before then. I kept checking my iPhone for an email or text, but neither came.

At 1 p.m., I went back to the website and found that there were two enrollment kiosks Downtown, one on North Delaware and one on East Washington. Here’s the ridiculous irony of the experience: I had to get in my car, drive Downtown and find parking to visit a kiosk and figure out why I couldn’t reserve a BlueIndy vehicle.

I was met by an ambassador wearing a blue shirt with the BlueIndy logo. I explained my situation and he directed me into the kiosk, where another ambassador — this one in Paris — helped me via video. BlueIndy’s service center isn’t operating here yet, so they’re outsourcing any issues to the experts in France.

My French ambassador, Jorge, was very helpful, but the process was annoying, partially because it felt like it was 150 degrees inside the kiosk. But Jorge was able to find that I had registered online. I just had to confirm that my name, address, email and phone on the screen was correct. OK, done.

He asked me to create a PIN to use with my membership. Wait, I already did that online. And then I had to hold my license against the screen — front and back — so that he could scan it. Hold on, I also did that online at home. He then said I needed to look in the camera and hold still for an identity photo.

Me: “Um, Jorge, why did I do all this at home only to have to do it again here?”

Jorge: “Well, Miss Hackney, that was to save you some time.”

Sigh, how is duplication saving time? Really, Jorge? He was so pleasant and helpful, though, that I could be only a little irritable. I inserted my debit card in a slot similar to a bank’s ATM, my daily membership pass printed, and Jorge explained how to activate and drive the car.

Au revoir, Jorge.

Finally, I was on the road. The car drove surprisingly smooth and had great pickup. I’m a tall woman — 5’9 — with long legs. I would certainly not want to make a cross-country road trip in a BlueIndy car, but it was comfortable enough for my drive to the airport. If I don’t use the car-sharing service for anything else, I will certainly rent one to get to and from Indianapolis International Airport for flights.

My next stop was the Kroger at Broad Ripple. As soon as I parked, shoppers came up to me to see the car.

“How do you like it?”

“How does it drive?”

“Isn’t today the first day you can rent one?”

“Can I see inside?”

As we discussed the political controversy surrounding the service and I showed it off like it was mine, I realized I was paying for folks to have this BlueIndy experience with me. At a charge of 40 cents per minute, it suddenly became like watching a taxi meter tick away while sitting in stopped traffic.

Still, I went inside and did a little grocery shopping. I wanted to use the car on the first day how I envisioned Indianapolis residents doing so. After shopping, I couldn’t figure out how to open the hatch, so I piled my groceries in the front and back seats.

Other malfunctions: There’s supposed to be an exterior sound system that chirps to let folks know you’re approaching — electric cars are silent — but it didn’t work. Also, the radio, when turned at higher volumes, which is not loud at all, makes a ticking noise that’s louder than the music. All software kinks that should be worked out in time, I was told.

I ran home to drop off my groceries, and my neighbors came out to see the car. They are a one-car household, with a young daughter. They discussed how helpful the station around the corner would be in a pinch when one of them had the car, and the other needed to pick up their daughter from school. I told them about the daily registration drama and that they should make sure they have this all plotted out before they actually need a car.

I can’t imagine what my frustration would have been if I needed the car to catch a flight, for example, and I thought online registration would provide that service immediately. It’s my understanding that at some point — none of the ambassadors could tell me when — that the online experience and app will be fully functional. But they also said that for a one-day pass, they think drivers will always need to go to a kiosk to get a temporary card. That’s a bummer.

Overall, the BlueIndy experience is just what I expected it to be — a convenient, green and relatively inexpensive way to make short trips around town. I had the car for nearly three hours, and it cost me $72. Most folks wouldn’t or shouldn’t keep the car that long — it’s not meant to be a long-term rental option.

When I dropped the car off, ambassadors were there to welcome me back and ensure I knew how to end the rental. Those folks won’t always be at rental stations, but it’s not a terribly difficult process. After I plugged the car back in at the station on Delaware, I received a text that thanked me for using BlueIndy, gave me the length of my rental and final cost, and reminded me to remove any personal items from the vehicle and lock it.

New transportation technology has arrived in Indy, and even on the first day was mostly at its finest.

Follow Star columnist Suzette Hackney on Twitter: @suzyscribe.