Raleigh Bike Share: Feasibility Study & Implementation Plan

Jennifer Baldwin Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator Office of Transportation Planning

City of Raleigh

How the Conversation Started

• 2011 Triangle region forum held to discuss possibility of regional bike share system

• 2012 Urban Design Center hosted an educational lunch forum about bike share – Toole Design Group: “Bike Sharing in United States:

State of the Practice & Guide to Implementation” – Charlotte B-Cycle Review

• FY2013 CIP allocation to conduct a Bike Share Feasibility Study & Implementation Plan – Currently negotiating contract with Toole Design Group

Study Scope

• Objective feasibility analysis as to whether bike share is right for Raleigh – Phase One: Determine the

feasibility for implementing a bike share system in Raleigh

– Phase Two: Provide an implementation plan for a bike share system in Raleigh

Phase One: Feasibility

• Task 1: Bike Share System Review – Data summary for peer US bike share systems – Complete profiles for at least three existing bike

share programs in comparable US Cities

Nice Ride (Minneapolis, MN) Deco Bike (Miami Beach, FL) Boulder N-Cycle (Boulder, CO)

Phase One: Feasibility

• Task 2: Existing Conditions & Demand Analysis – Demographics – Economics – Housing – Transportation Infrastructure – Physical Conditions – Recreation/Entertainment – Retail – Transit

• Task 3: Policy Review – Examine existing and proposed policies, plans, and

regulations that influence land use and bicycle use – Review impact on bike share implementation

Phase One: Feasibility

• Task 4: Business Model Assessment – Summary and evaluation

of different business models nationally

– Analysis and recommendation of appropriate business model for Raleigh

Phase One: Feasibility

• Task 5: Final Bike Share Feasibility Study – Outline of major goals and objectives for the bike

share study – Draft and Final Bike Share Feasibility Report

• Million dollar questions: – Will bike share in Raleigh work? What should it

look like? Can it be sustained? How much $$?

Phase One: Feasibility

Phase Two: Implementation Plan

• Task 6: Financial Plan Development – Revenue forecasting

• Potential ridership (demand analysis)

– Expense modeling • Capital costs • Installation costs • Operating costs

• Task 7: Phasing & Expansion Plan – Scale and phasing parameters – Estimated number of stations/bikes – Projected ridership – Demographic information – Station density

Phase Two: Implementation Plan

Ecobici (Mexico City, Mexico)

• Task 8: Station Planning, Sizing & Placement – Demand-based network – Adjust for specific locations – Create siting guidelines

• Solar requirements • On-street/sidewalk restrictions • Operations requirements • Permitting process

– Identify field locations – Site design & photo renderings

Phase Two: Implementation Plan

• Task 9: Public Involvement – Project website – Crowd-sourcing online map – Online survey – Public Open House

• Stakeholder Engagement – Possible partners & sponsors – Underwriting specific stations?

Phase Two: Implementation Plan

• Task 10: Implementation Plan – Final report with specific action items and

recommendations

• Project expected to take six months • Project kickoff schedule for Dec 2013

Phase Two: Implementation Plan

Questions?

Jennifer.baldwin@raleighnc.gov Or

BikeRaleigh@raleighnc.gov