Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS KREKORIAN, GARCETTI, KUEHL, AND SANDOVAL
Improving the Effectiveness and Sustainability of Metro Bike Share
Metro Bike Share, a county-wide bike share program, launched in 2016. Since then, Metro has had over 3,300 bicycles in the system, consisting of a mix of Classic, Smart, and E-bikes.
Currently, Metro only has 38% of the total original fleet remaining in operation. Metro Bikes have been targets of theft, and rates of fleet loss ebb and flow as new methods of theft are discovered and addressed. The Metro Bike Share team has increased efforts to recover lost and stolen bicycles but this is not sustaining the fleet and the program does not have an established fleet replenishment strategy. As a result, fewer Metro Bikes are available for use, which degrades the quality of service available to the public.
Affordable, accessible public transportation and active transportation options such as Metro Bike Share are a cornerstone of meeting our region’s climate goals. As local jurisdictions in the County continue expanding bicycle infrastructure and mobility options to meet climate goals and improve the quality of life for residents, a successful and sustainable Metro Bike Share program is more important than ever.
Subject
SUBJECT: IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF METRO BIKE SHARE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Motion by Directors Krekorian, Garcetti, Kuehl, and Sandoval that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to report back in 90 days on:
A. An action plan to stabilize the current fleet size including actions for how to identify, prioritize, and address new mechanisms of theft as they arise.
B. An action plan to address equitable access in the current program and in any future form of the program. This plan shall include recommendations on issues such as serving people who may be unbanked, addressing the digital divide, and keeping fare cost low.
C. A plan to provide uninterrupted service as the next iteration of the program is determined and executed.
D. A plan to convene an industry forum (as was performed for Metro Micro) to bring together academics, cities with existing bike share programs, community stakeholders, and industry experts to provide recommendations on advancing Metro Bike Share beyond the current contract in one of several forms including but not limited to:
1. Continuing Metro Bike Share as a contracted service,
2. Operating the program In-house with Metro employees,
3. A private-sector model with financial subsidy provided by Metro.
E. Performing a market survey to identify best practices and business models among existing bike-share systems in the US, and comparable global systems (e.g., Paris, London, Barcelona, Madrid, and Mexico City), and to develop comparative data on subsidy cost per ride, total ridership, size of fleet, vehicle technology, theft and damage loss and prevention, and alternative financing sources like sponsorship and advertising.
F. Recommendations for continuing and evolving the Metro Bike Share program to meet the goals of the agency, with countywide stakeholder engagement and consideration of cost-sharing, with the goal of expanding service area and local participation to all subregions in the County. These recommendations should include eligible local, state, and federal funding sources for capital and operations budgets, as well as legislative opportunities to expand such funding eligibility.