+Encouraging Low-income

and Socio-Economically

Disadvantaged Groups’

use of Bike Share

Programs

Global Green USAMay 2013

+Bike Sharing in Santa Monica

Our Work:

City of Santa Monica received a $1.5 million grant from Metro that would fund bikeshare in 2016

We are now working to accelerate the launch date of this grant, and to coordinate it with efforts from the city and county of Los Angeles to launch bike share programs

In September 2012, the City of Santa Monica was awarded a $500,000 grant for bike share plans, with funds earmarked for Global Green to assist with outreach and marketing efforts 

Priorities: regional connectivity and equitable access Minority and low-income groups often excluded from bike sharing

programs Create a more equitable and connected bikeshare and transit system

+Los Angeles Bikeshare Program

Los Angeles’ program will help inform our work for Santa Monica’s bikeshare program (will these two programs ultimately be connected?)

Bike Nation would bring 4,000 bikes and 400 kiosks to communities in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Westwood and Venice Beach   Bike Nation is able to privately fund the bike

sharing program without the requirement of any government funding or subsidies and will monetize the program through membership and usage, sponsorship and advertising.

From a social equity perspective, this program is problematic Stations will be placed disproportionately in

wealthier, white neighborhoods the program pays little attention to regional

connectivity and the greater transit system since it is limited to these areas.

the benefits of Los Angeles’ bike share system will likely only be available to the few who are able to pay for it.

+Los Angeles Demographics and Transit Statistics

Roughly 10% of the Los Angeles metro population uses mass transit to commute to work

89% of workers using transit are people of color; 92% of bus riders are people of color (2008)

78% of workers using transit are also renters (2008)

82% of transit users are from households where one or more adult lacks access to a car (2008)

75% of public transportation users are “non-choice” riders and are transit-dependent (2009)

20% of people living below the poverty level in Los Angeles (2007-2011 census bureau)

70 percent of bus riders have annual household incomes under $26,000 (2009). The federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,050

+Racial Demographics of Los Angeles Rail and Bus Riders (2009)

Bus Rail

Latino 59% 45%

Black 19% 22%

Asian/Pacific Islander 8% 9%

American Indian 1% 1%

White 8% 19%

Other 4% 4%

+Proportion of Residents who Ride Public Mass Transit (2000 Census)

Priority should be placing bike share stations in low-income areas where a high proportion of residents ride mass transit

+Barriers to Usage for Disadvantaged Groups and Recommendations

+1) Social and Cultural Obstacles

Barriers: Social stigma attached to riding bikes Helmet requirements

Recommendations: Targeted outreach efforts and incentives Make bikes less flashy (could increase theft)

Case Study: Mexico City

+2) Disproportionate Bikeshare Kiosk Locations Barriers:

Higher demand for bike sharing in wealthier, white neighborhoods

Kiosks disproportionately placed in these areas

Recommendations: Kiosk stations should be consciously placed adjacent to

affordable housing Expansion to minority neighborhoods disproportionately

underrepresented in bicycling should be a priority

Case Study: ? Is there a city that prioritized placing kiosks in low-income

areas? Denver and Boulder (B-cycle)

+3) Theft or Vandalism of Bikes Barriers:

Offering free use of bikes or simple coin deposit systems rather than smart technology kiosks have led to high rates of theft and vandalism

Recommendations: Smart technology including smartcards GPS tracking systems on bikes Security cameras at kiosks Involve residents in the creation of the bike share system

Case Study Montreal’s BIXI

+4) “Unbanked” Users

Barriers: All the modern U.S. bike-share systems require a credit or debit card to rent a bike or a

smart key which is paid for online (no cash option) Excludes people who may not have a credit card and bank account

Recommendations: Help low-income people set up bank accounts and credit cards (e.g. Bank on DC

program) Find an organization that will take on some financial responsibility and hand out prepaid

cards (pay fee if bike is damaged or stolen so neither a bank account, deposit, or annual fee is required for low-income users)

Selling pre-paid cards that could be purchased with cash and also include a cash payment option at kiosks for casual riders

Some have also considered tying bike-share payments to cell phones, which many low-income people do have — allowing them to purchase memberships when they pay their phone bill or tying payments to rent/leases

integrate bike sharing payment media with other accounts like transit farecards which can be paid for in cash

Case Study: Washington DC, Capital Bike share La Rochelle, France

+5) Financial Barriers Barriers:

Low-income residents may be unable to afford membership fees and security deposits

Recommendations: Offer installment payment plans Subsidize the cost for certain disadvantaged groups Relaxing security deposit requirements and account holds Partner with organization willing to pay for damaged or stolen

bikes so a deposit is not required for some users

Case Study: Hubway in Boston Nice Ride in Minneapolis Capital Bike share in Arlington, Virginia Mejor en Bici in Buenos Aires, Argentina

+Integrating and connecting the bike share system to other forms of public transit One way to make it easier to pay for bike sharing would

be to integrate bike sharing payment media with other accounts

The city of La Rochelle, France has shown that bike sharing can be fully integrated with other transport modes by adopting a single smart card ticketing system. Since 1971, the city of la Rochelle—with 78,000 inhabitants—has sought an integrated approach to public transportation: The entire transport system is accessible through a single electronic ticket—the “yélo” card –which allows its users to ride buses and the ferry, and also to rent bicycles, taxis and electric vehicles, and to pay for the park & ride and all other services