Refer to them as trailer-trash from Washington state, apparently.
The city, along with Downtown OKC Inc., last month launched its new bike-share program, Spokies.
But “spokie” carries with it an unfortunate regional slang definition.
As defined at urbandictionary.com, a “spokie” refers to a native of Spokane, Wash., who “typically exhibits a lack of sophistication and characteristics commonly associated with those who reside in a trailer park,” or, in a second definition, a homeless person from Spokane.
While we don’t believe there have been any drunken fights over food stamp cards or meth lab explosions at any of the six environmentally friendly, conveniently located Spokies kiosks, we here at Chicken-Fried News are waiting ... to videotape it when something like that does happen and put it on the Internets.
Sadly, we may have more of a wait than we’d like.
Less than two weeks after the launch of Spokies, city officials temporarily shut down the program, prompting a collective condescending chortle from fixed-gear evangelists of the hipster community.
Officials cited a software and design flaw in the security hardware that resulted in two thefts and vandalism, as well as several problems processing credit cards.
The bikes were removed from the Spokies kiosks, and Downtown OKC staff said they hope the repairs will take less than a month to complete. Those who purchased a monthly or yearly membership prior to May 30 will get a free month of service once it returns.
This is why we can’t have nice things, people.
