REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Implementation of a Bike Share Program (Study Issue)
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission sponsored the Bike Share Program Study Issue which examined the costs, logistics, and efficiency of establishing a bike share program in Sunnyvale (Attachment 1, Council Study Issue: DPW 14-05). The Study Issue was ranked 3rd by Council. This report identifies a feasible concept for Sunnyvale based on program components, capital outlay, operation and maintenance requirements, potential ridership and revenue generation.
While Sunnyvale has a strong bicycle network, the segregated and lower-density land uses make adequate station spacing challenging, thus reducing ridership potential limiting the program's success. While Bay Area Bike Share operates as a system, gaps between Mountain View and San Jose limit the ability to establish connections of reasonable riding distances to and from Sunnyvale, thus reducing the program's potential for success. This program is still relatively new to the Bay Area. A formal evaluation of the current pilot program has not been completed and staff will continue to monitor progress as performance data is published.
In the best case scenario where Sunnyvale is able to be integrated into the existing Bay Area Bike Share program and the program is grant-funded, implemented, and operated through the Air District well beyond this initial pilot phase, the City, would have to allocate only a match fund for implementation (typically 11%-12%, roughly $70,000 for a ten station system), with operations fully covered by fees and grants. In the worst case scenario, as the project sponsor the City would be responsible for the full implementation, operation, and maintenance costs of the system. For a ten-station system this would equate to approximately $600,000 for implementation, and $48,000 to $168,000 annual operating costs. As the future of the existing system is uncertai...
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