Public Bicycle Sharing and Rental Programs 2014 Transportation Research Board Transportation and Federal Lands Rebecca Gleason, PE Research Engineer Mobility & Public Transportation September, 2014
Background Organization Public bicycle sharing Bike rentals Looking forward for bikes in Federal Lands
Background Funded by FHWA Federal Lands Highways and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Roads
What is bike sharing? A form of public transportation Bikes for short-term use at network of stations Bikes can be checked out from one place and returned to another, allowing for one way trips
Bike Sharing Long History in Europe 1960 s Amsterdam White bikes unregulated, high theft 1995 Copenhagen City Bikes coin deposit 2005 Lyon, France Velo v credit card checkout, identify user, turning point 2007 Paris Vélib launched with 7,000 bikes. In 2010, had 23,600 bikes.
Bike Sharing Short History in U.S. Nice Ride Minnesota, Minneapolis June 2010 launch (over 100 stations, over 1000 bikes in 2011) Denver B-Cycle, Colorado April 2010 launch (50 stations, 500 bikes) Capital Bikeshare Washington, DC and Arlington, Virginia Sept. 2010 launch (114 stations, 1100 bikes)
Nice Ride Minnesota City Population: 337,392 in Minneapolis Metro area population: 3.1 million Density: 6,721 people per square mile Vendor: Public Bicycle System Operator: Nice Ride Minnesota (non profit)
Nice Ride Key Features Closely spaced stations Smart bikes communicate with admin system Portable and modular stations Durable (heavy) bikes designed for short trips Nice Ride Minnesota (Photo: WTI)
Photos by: Andrew Duvall slide9
Nice Ride How it works 1. Must have membership $60 for annual, $30 for 30 days or $5 for 24-hours Nice Ride membership key (Photo: R. Gleason) 2. Members ride free for first half hour, with increasing fees for longer trips.
Nice Ride Cost to Ride Membership length Membership Cost 24 hour $5 5 or 7-day NA 30 day $30 One year $60 Nice Ride and NPS Ranger (Photo: NPS)
Nice Ride How it works Fee structure encourages short trips, high turnover to make bikes available to more people Open 24 hrs/day, 7 days a week April to November- CONVENIENT
Nice Ride Start Up and Operating Costs Start up - $3 million for system with 700 bikes/ 65 stations [1] average $4,285 per bike (with all system components) Operating costs estimated $1.5 million annually [2] average $180 per bike each month [1] Draft Report Phase 2 Planning-Nice Ride Minnesota, Dec. 2010 [2] City of Minneapolis Non-Profit Business Plan for Twin Cities Bike Share System, 2008.
Nice Ride Funding/ Partners Public and private funds - $3 million capital costs primary sources: $1.75 M -FHWA Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Project $1 M - Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of MN Center for Prevention (funded by historic tobacco litigation settlement). $250,000 City of Minneapolis Convention Center Fund
Nice Ride Partners Many local businesses and organizations sponsor stations. The system recognizes sponsors; they do not sell advertising. Local professionals donated hundreds of hours of staff time Legal, design, marketing, accounting, public relations and web development firms
Nice Ride Safety and Legal Liability 1. Bicycle Friendly Community 2. User agreement -liability waiver 3. 3 rd party operator (non-profit organization) 4. Operator carries insurance (workers compensation, commercial liability and auto liability)
Nice Ride Safety and Legal Liability Ongoing safety outreach/ education During 1 st year: one bike lost, one crash and no accidents with injuries Bill Dossett, 2011, January webinar
Benefits of Bike Sharing Increase acceptance of bikes as transportation Create a positive image Motivate people to be more active Attract tourists Nice Ride tour in Minneapolis (photo: WTI)
Places that support automated bike sharing have 1. Places people feel comfortable biking 2. High population densities 3. Short distances between destinations 4. Connections to public transit systems 5. Strong political and public support
Nice Ride Minnesota Launched June 2010 with 700 bicycles at 65 stations
Bike Sharing and Federal Lands National Mall and Memorial Parks - Capital Bike share San Antonio Missions National Historical Park - B-Cycle Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - Nice Ride Minnesota
National Academy of Sciences Capital Bikeshare
Bike Share Limitations Heavy bikes No provisions for children or people with disabilities Denver B-Cycle (Photo: A. Duvall)
Bike rental programs Aimed at recreational rides Various style bikes Children s bikes and trailers. Most common bike program in Federal lands
Bike Rentals Grand Canyon National Park Annual visitation: 4.4 million Bikes envisioned in 1995 General Management Plan Bikes included in 2008 South Rim Transportation Plan
Grand Canyon s Bike Rentals NPS goals for bike rental: provide visitors access to park sites without needing a personal vehicle improve visitor experience (NPS Commercial Use Authorization, 2010).
Bright Angels Bikes (Photo: F. Gimmler) Grand Canyon Bright Angels Bikes Established May 2010 85 bikes cruiser and 7 speed bikes, 5 different sizes, children s bikes and trailers Single location at South Rim Visitors Center May to Sept. 8 am 6 pm March, April, Oct., Nov. if weather permits
Grand Canyon s Bike Rentals Funding Business model Private for profit operator NPS temporary Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) for bike rentals Capital/Start-up Costs $60,000 (for 85 bikes, shuttle van, helmets and gear) Ave. $706 per bike Annual Operating Costs in 2010 $140,000 average $1647 per bike annually cost information from Kyle George, 2011 Grand Canyon South Rim (photo: D. Weiss)
Grand Canyon s Bike Rentals Family of 4 cost half day ride $25 x 2 + $15 x 2 = $80 full day ride $35 x 2 + $25 x 2 = $120 Adult Children (17 and under) Trailer 1 Hour $10 $7 $6 ½ Day $25 $15 $10 (4 hrs) Full Day $35 $25 $12 (8 hrs) Multi-Day $30 $20 $15 24-hours $45 $35 $15
Safety and Legal Liability Grand Canyon s Bike Rentals 1. Bike friendly places (greenway, shuttle bus only road) 2. Third party operator 3. Rider responsibility Rider safety orientation Bike rental includes helmet and safety vest 4. Bike rental operator carries insurance
Help visitors choose a ride that they will enjoy Combine shuttle and bikes Map and ride information courtesy Bright Angels Bicycles
Grand Canyon s Bike Bike rental new service in 2010 Well received by NPS managers and visitors Rentals Plans for 10-yr concession contract combining bike rentals/ food service. Biking Grand Canyon south rim (photo: D. Weiss)
How is Bike Sharing different 1. Trip length than Bike Rentals? 2. Check out/return options 3. Trip type (recreation/ transportation) 4. Business model 5. Technology 6. Options for kids and people with disabilities
Consider bike rentals in Federal lands that have Bike friendly places to ride Rural settings Longer distances between attractions Dirt trails or hilly terrain
Combining Bike Rental and Sharing Concepts Banff bike rentals at farmers market Pittsburgh bike rentals 335 mile Great Allegheny Passage/ C&O Canal trail to DC Banff bikes at farmers market (belt drives)
Belt drive rental bike in Banff
Employee bike fleets For employees or students with organization (not for public use) Use standard bikes Low cost, simple to start Already in Federal lands! NPS Midwest Regional office Omaha, Nebraska (photo: NPS) Glacier NP Montana Red Bikes (photo: NPS)
What did we talk about? Public bike sharing Bike rentals Employee bikes
Consider bike sharing in places that have 1. Bike friendly places 2. High population densities (or visitation) 3. Short distances between destinations 4. Connections to public transit systems 5. Strong political and public support
Consider bike rentals in Federal lands that have Bike friendly places Rural settings Longer distances between attractions Dirt trails or hilly terrain
Looking forward Must have bike friendly places Streets are for moving people 8 to 80
Looking Forward League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly programs Engineering Education Encouragement Enforcement Evaluation Bike Friendly Minneapolis (photo: NPS)
Looking forward Many new technical resources NACTO urban bikeway and streets guide ASSHTO bike design guide Green Lane Project
Looking forward Coming soon! FHWA separated bike lane planning and design document FHWA Road Diet Guide Alta and WTI small town and rural streets design guide project starting October 2014
Road Diet Peach Street (N. 7 th to Rouse) Removed parking on south side Shifted road centerline north Striped bike lanes on both sides Peach St. Before Peach St. After
Not a technical issue Not a financial issue It is a political issue In Closing