This was a major factor we considered in our design. Every bicycle is GPS tracked, so you know their locations. The bicycles are designed to be rugged so they hold up to abuse, and regular maintenance is part of operations. There will always be issues, but nothing that can't be solved.

There are hundred of modern programs in operations around the world, and it seems the theft issue has been overblown: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/149446485.html