6A - Information Item: Boulder Bike Sharing project
CITY OF BOULDER
PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
INFORMATION PACKET
MEMORANDUM
To: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
From: Transportation
Tracy Winfree, Director of Public Works for Transportation
Mike Gardner Sweeney, Transportation Operations and Planning Coordinator
Martha Roskowski, GO Boulder Program Manager
Randall Rutsch, Senior Transportation Planner
Marni Ratzel, Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Planner
Date: December 13, 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, most 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 20 to 25 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. The city is working collaboratively with Boulder B-Cycle in
developing the basis and procedures for implementing the initial installation and expected
expansion of a bike share system in Boulder. An interdepartmental staff team has developed
code changes to allow sponsorships related to bike share and is working on potential station
locations and the review and permitting process for bike share stations. Some stations are
proposed to be located upon Parks property.
This agenda item is intended to provide the PRAB with some background on bike share and the
city's effort to implement a system in Boulder. Initial staff thinking on a review and
implementation strategy is included to begin discussion with the PRAB on its role for
considering the approval of stations located upon city Parks and Recreation owned parcels.
Agenda Item VI-A, p. 1
BACKGROUND
Bike sharing is already a major success in dozens of European and Asian cities and is rapidly
being adopted in North America. The Velib 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, New York, Miami, 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.
tat,
BBS plans a Phase 1 installation of 20 to 25
stations with 200 specially designed bikes that fit4
people of all sizes and are equipped for utility
trips around town. Members and walk-up users
r
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 J
or round-trip travel. A progressive rate structure ' ~~V• I"
(first 60 minutes free with charges for each
additional 30 minutes) will encourage short trips i;
and quick turn-over of bikes to maximize -r.
availability of bikes. A maintenance staff:'_
actively monitors the system to ensure the bikes -
are always ready to ride and to redistributes bikes
as needed.
In this first phase, scheduled to launch in May y3 r 1
2011, the B-stations will be located every few
blocks in the Downtown area, with additional
stations in an area generally bounded by 01 Street
to the west, 30th Street to the east, Pine Street to
the north and the Boulder Creek Path to the
south. _ - - =
Agenda Item VI-A, p. 2
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 potential
phase one 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 is designed to 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 intend to 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.
One challenge of implementing a bike share system is developing a sustainable funding strategy.
The large European systems such as Velib in Paris are primarily funded by government subsidy
and advertising dollars, with large advertising firms providing the systems in exchange for
advertising rights on billboards, transit stops and other public infrastructure. Boulder's sign code
restricts such large scale advertisements, meaning advertising cannot serve as the primary
financing mechanism. Therefore, BBS and the city have developed a three-part funding strategy,
combining public funds, memberships and sponsorships with a goal of making the system
financially self-sustaining over time without the need for large signage. Sponsors are expected to
range from adjacent businesses and community groups to larger organizations interested in
supporting this system.
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.
Agenda Item VI-A, p. 3
BOARD AND COMMISSION FEEDBACK
This item was reviewed by the Planning Board at its Dec. 2, 2010 meeting as the code changes
fall under their purview. The Planning Board unanimously recommended adoption of the
proposed code changes. The Board was also interested in implementation aspects of the system
and asked questions related to the location of stations, their power source, snow removal and
neighborhood outreach. All of these items are included in the planning for implementation and
will be addressed through the permit process. Council and the Planning Board will receive
periodic updates as planning moves forward. The Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) does
not have a direct role in these code changes but receives periodic updates on the program. The
TAB supports the concept of funding the Bike Share program with sponsorship/advertising.
NEXT STEPS
The first and second City Council reading of the proposed code changes are scheduled for
December 21, 2010 and January 4, 2010 respectively. With these changes, Boulder B-Cycle will
begin to firm up sponsorship agreements to support the system launch in April, 2011.
While a majority of the staff team's effort has been directed toward the proposed code changes,
the group has also developed initial thoughts on the potential review and permitting process for
bike share stations. As the system is expected to launch with about 25 stations and grow with
demand and sponsorships, an efficient and appropriately scaled review process is envisioned.
Again, the experience of the Denver B-Cycle has been helpful. The City of Denver created a
master revocable licence agreement for bike stations and formed an interdepartmental staff team
to review and administratively approve individual station locations. New individual station
approvals and conditions are then appended to the master permit. This approach established
standards and expectations for all bike share stations through a broader city process and then
allows an interdepartmental team to review individual station locations in a timely manner. This
approach could be an appropriate model for the City of Boulder.
The city staff group working on the review process for bike stations includes Jeff Arthur,
Engineering Review Manager and Charles Ferro, Land Use Review Manager. The group has
considered two general situations where bike stations are likely to locate- the first being in the
public right of way and the second being outside of the public right of way. For locations in the
public right of way, the staff group has been working with Erin Poe of the City Attorney's Office
on drafting a master revokable permit license agreement. It seems that all initial station locations
could be identified in one agreement and reviewed by a staff team. The staff team would be
interdepartmental representing the major departments and interests within the city, emphasizing
those involved in operations and maintenance activities. Future station locations would also be
reviewed by this staff team. Staff does not anticipate that any locations will require a use review
by Planning Board.
If station standards and expectations are more broadly established, for land outside of the public
right of way an administrative review appears appropriate for individual station locations. The
reviews would likely result in a minor modification to an existing site plan or a simple building
permit for properties without a previous discretionary review.
Agenda Item VI-A, p. 4
City owned parcels such as parks represent a unique and mixed set of circumstances. In some
cases as for parks, a city board has clear review authority. In other cases, there is no clear board
authority or multiple departments are involved, as when the property is owned by one part of the
city but maintained or managed by another. Staff is still identifying those issues and conditions
but to the extent possible would like to follow a process similar to that described for locations
outside of the public right of way
Based upon the Charter, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board has the authority to grant
leases, permits and licenses on park land. Stations currently proposed to be located upon City of
Boulder Parks & Recreation owned parcels include:
• Green Leaf Park (Spruce & Folsom)
• Eben G. Fine Park
• Central Park
• NBRC
• EBRC
Staff would like PRAB to consider identifying a set of expectations and standards for any
stations that might be located on Parks property and establish an administration review process
for these locations by the staff team with some option for call up by the Board. The station
location review process would likely result in an administrative minor modification to an
existing site plan or a simple building permit for park properties that don't have a site plan.
Staff anticipates returning to the PRAB early in 2011 to seek Board consideration and approval
for an initial list of bike share stations proposed for installation on Parks and Recreation owned
land and a proposal for an ongoing review process for system expansion.
Please direct questions and comments to Marm Ratzel by email at ratzelmLa)bouldercolorado.Rov
or telephone at (303) 441-3266.
Attachments
A: Potential B-station locations
B: Sponsorship system components
Agenda Item VI-A, p. 5
Attachment A
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Attachment B
BOULDER =
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
Attachment B
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.
Attachment B
BOULDER = r- Cie
Illustration of Sponsorship Elements; a
visual annotation of the "Sponsorships and
Sign Code" memo dated August 6, 2010.
August 19, 2010, v.1
P. 1
Attachment B
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