6 - Information Item: Boulder Bike Sharing Project
CITY OF BOULDER
DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
INFORMATION PACKET
MEMORANDUM
To: Downtown Management Commission
From: DUHMD/PS
Molly Winter, Director of DUHMD/PS
Kurt Matthews, Manager of Parking Services
Transportation
Tracy Win&•ee, Director of Public Works for Transportation
Mike Gardner Sweeney, Transportation Operations and Planning Coordinator
Martha Roskowski, GO Boulder Program Manager
Marni Ratzel, Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Planner
Date: December b, 2010
RE: Information Item - Boulder Bike Sharing project
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The city is working with Boulder Bike Sharing (BBS), a local non-profit, to implement a public
bike sharing system in Boulder. With a projected launch date of May, 2011, Boulder will likely
be the first community of its size in the United States to launch a system.
Bike share systems provide short term bike rentals at multiple, conveniently located automated
stations, and have proven tremendously popular in other cities. To date, all bike share systems
have been implemented by large metropolitan cities. Boulder's robust network of bicycle
facilities, a large visitor base and the community's embrace of bicycling create a strong
foundation for a successful program.
The first phase will establish a network of 25 to 30 stations throughout the center of the
community, stocked with about 200 bikes. BBS, operating as Boulder B-Cycle, will own,
manage and maintain the system.
BACKGROUND
Bike sharing is already a major success in dozens of European and Asian cities and is rapidly
being adopted in North America. The Velih program in Paris is perhaps the most famous model,
with a fleet of about 17,000 bikes being used for an estimated 50,000 and 150,000 trips per day.
Montreal implemented the first North American system in 2009; Washington D.C, Denver, and
Minneapolis launched pioneering programs in 2010. Other cities expecting to launch bike
sharing systems in 2011 include Aspen, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio, Chattanooga,
Des Moines, Nashville, Honolulu, San Francisco and the Bay Area, Toronto, and Ottawa.
Dozens more are likely to follow in 2012 and beyond.
Boulder is launching a bike share program to help meet the sustainability goals established by
the City of Boulder of reducing single-occupant vehicle trips, vehicle miles traveled and
transportation-related emissions. Additional goals of the program are to:
■ Increase use and awareness of Boulder's award-winning bikeway system;
■ Create new bicycle commuters;
■ Expand community partnerships in support of bicycling as an active, fun and convenient
transportation mode;
■ Leverage city contribution and commitment of the program with community-based
sponsorship revenues;
■ Bolster the city's reputation as a leader in bicycling; and,
■ Encourage Boulder's many visitors to explore the city by bicycle.
BBS plans a Phase 1 installation of 25 to 30 stations with 200 specially designed bikes that fit
people of all sizes and are equipped for utility trips around town. Members and walk-up users can
check out a bike by swiping a credit card or membership card at the station. Bikes can be returned
to any station, allowing either one-way or round-trip travel. A progressive rate structure (first 60
minutes free with escalating charges for each additional 30 minutes) will encourage short trips and
quick turn-over of bikes to maximize availability of bikes. A maintenance staff ensures the bikes
are always ready to ride and redistributes bikes as needed.
In this first phase, scheduled to launch in May 2011, the B-stations will be located every few
blocks in the Downtown area, with additional stations in an area generally bounded by 4t' Street
to the west, 30th Street to the east, Pine Street to the north and the Boulder Creek Path to the
south.
The system will expand over time as funding allows, with a long-term goal of stations
throughout more of Boulder, including the CU campus. Attachment A is a map of proposed
station locations. A multi-departmental staff team is working with BBS to ensure that station
locations are considered within the larger context of all public right of way use needs.
Boulder B-Cycle will be compatible with the Denver B-Cycle system. The Denver B-Cycle
system is operated by a Denver-based nonprofit in partnership with the City and County of
Denver. The Denver system, launched on Earth Day of 2010, has proven an excellent resource of
expertise. The Denver team has been very generous in sharing lessons learned in all aspects of
the system including financing, administration, and implementation.
The Boulder B-cycle and Denver B-cycle operators will each allow annual members of their
respective systems to check out bikes from each other's systems without having to buy separate
memberships, although there may be an extra cost associated with such practices. The bikes will
not be allowed to migrate back and forth between the two cities.
The estimated cost of Phase 1 implementation is $1.3 million. The city has committed $250,000
in federal stimulus funding and a modest amount of additional funding to help with the start-up
of the system. BBS is launching a grassroots fundraising and sponsorship campaign in November
to raise the rest of the necessary capital funds. The annual cost of operating and maintaining the
system is estimated to be $520,000 or $2,600 per bike. BBS anticipates that revenues from
sponsorships, members, and usage fees will be sufficient to cover this amount. Any revenues
over costs will be re-invested into system improvements and expansion.
BBS has identified a specific set of sponsorship elements based on experiences with bike sharing
in other cities, from conversations with sponsors on their expectations for recognition and
recognizing the unique conditions and expectations of the Boulder community. City staff' concurs
that the proposed element are reasonable and realistic. Attachment B illustrates proposed system
components and a description of the sponsorship elements.
Revisions to the Boulder Revised Code (BRC) are necessary to implement the sponsor
recognition elements. A multi-departmental staff team has been working on amendments that
will permit the sponsor recognition while minimizing unintended consequences or adverse
impacts due to inappropriate signage. The City Council will consider a proposed ordinance to
revise sections of the Boulder Revised Code (BRC) 1981 outlined below:
• 5-6-11 Private Signs on Public Property
• 9-7-3 Setback Encroachments
• 9-9-6 (g) Bicycle Parking
• 9-9-21 Signage
The first and second reading before City Council Review are scheduled to occur on December
21, 2010 and January 4, 2010 respectively. Please direct questions and comments to Marni
Ratzel by email at ratzehnabouldercolorado.gov or telephone at (303) 441-3266.
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TO: Go Boulder staff
FROM: Lewis Wolman
RE: Sponsorships and sign code
DATE: August 6, 2010
Boulder B-cycle has a very specific set of sponsorship elements it wishes to offer to sponsors.
This is a description of the elements. Next week we will provide some visual images to illustrate
what we are describing. In a few weeks, I believe we can have a bike and station to show you, so
you don't have to rely on descriptions and illustrations.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
AT THE STATION KIOSK:
Al. A text line about 36 inches up off the ground, on the front of the kiosk, in a uniform sans
serif font that states: "This station is proudly sponsored by XYZ Corporation." No logo. No
unique, branded typeface.
A2. Under the text line (#1 above), a sponsor's logo not to exceed 100 square inches in size.
No product advertising.
A3. If the sponsorship is split between no more than four sponsors, we'd want the text line
(Al above) to list all four, and we'd want the logo space (not to exceed 100 square inches in
total) to feature up to four sponsor logos.
A4. A station name in a uniform font, "XYZ STATION". This would not replace the existing red
stripe with white lettering that provides the cross streets (e.g., "PEARL AND FOLSOM"). This
would not be in a unique, branded typeface. The station name would go on the sides of the
kiosk and perhaps the front (this will be dependent on the graphic design work being done
by the industrial designers who are the same people who designed the existing kiosk).
AT THE STATION DOCKS
Each dock has a left side and right side. The right side is where the button and RFID-reading
flat panel now exists (approximately 2 inches by 3 inches).
B1. We would like to use the space on the left side (i.e., 2 inches by 3 inches) for a sponsor's
logo.
AT THE STATION POSTER MODULES
Each station will have a poster module. One side will have a system map which will be
placed on one side of the two-sided poster module. We propose that:
Cl. In the public right-of-way, the "back side" of the poster module (about 24 inches by 36
inches) be used for a poster approved by the City that, among other things, allows for
recognition of any Title Sponsor(s) with a logo space not to exceed 100 square inches total,
Lewis Wolman, Executive Director • lewis.wolman@gmail.com • 303-249-6396
BOULDER =
as well as a simple text line (not to exceed two inches in height), such as "Boulder B-cycle
gratefully thanks Title Sponsors Wells Fargo and McGuckins."
C2. On private land, the "back side" of the poster module can be used by the sponsoring
land owner or the entitled tenant, to the extent of the law (e.g., no third-party advertising).
Or it can be used for the city-approved poster mentioned in C1 if the private party has no
more "spare" advertising rights or chooses not to exercise them.
C3. As regards the map on the "front side" of the poster module, we would like to
acknowledge the Title Sponsor(s) with text that is less than two inches tall.
ON THE BIKES
D1. Identical sponsor logos on the left and right side panels of the front basket
(approximately 6 by 6 inches).
D2. A sponsor logo on the triangular-shaped space at the throat of the plastic shroud
attached to the handlebars (approximately 5 by 3 inches).
D3. Identical sponsor logos on the triangular-shaped left and right skirt guard panels to the
rear of the seat stays (approximate size: a large slice of pizza).
D4. A horizontal message on the flat top of the plastic shroud that says something like "The
Smith family is proud to show our love for Boulder by putting this bike in the fleet." The
typeface would be less than 2 inches tall. If the sponsorship were split between (no more
than) two families, two names would be listed. This sponsorship is only available to
individuals, families, schools, and clubs.
page 2 of 3
BOULDER =
Illustration of Sponsorship Elements; a
visual annotation of the "Sponsorships and
Sign Code" memo dated August 6, 2010.
August 19, 2010, v.1 r
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