Atlanta-DecaturBike Share FeasibilityStudy

December 12, 2012

Overview of Discussion

Work to DateA little back story on the bike share initiative

Bike Share BasicsWhat it is and how it worksWhat it is and how it works

Technical FindingsReview of community and financial analysis

Next StepsWhere to go from here

Who has been involved?

• This study has been led by Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.

• Financial support has been provided by the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation and the City of Decatur.

• Technical analysis and document development was managed by Robert and Companywith support from

• Technical analysis and document development was managed by Robert and Companywith support from MetroBikeMetroBikeMetroBikeMetroBike.

• The City of Atlanta, City of Decatur and the Atlanta Regional Commission formed the technical review committee.

Bike Share Basics

What is bike share?

1: short-term bicycle rental available at a network of unattended locations;

2: bicycle transit

What is bike share?workworkworkwork

visitvisitvisitvisitshopshopshopshop livelivelivelive

connectconnectconnectconnect

socializesocializesocializesocialize

lifelifelifelife

relax and playrelax and playrelax and playrelax and play

Beyond a service, bike share is…

…innovative technology. …a positive city image

…affordable

…a source of green jobs.

…a connector.

…affordable

System Components

Bikes + Stations

Network of Stations

Back-End System

Customers

Bikes

Features

– Up-right, universal fit

– Basket

– Fenders for all-weather riding

– Lights for night riding

– Integrated technology for tracking and docking

– Integrated lock to secure bike while in use but away from a docking station

Stations

Features

– Kiosk for accessing system and payment

– Signage

– Docks or racks to hold bike while not in use

Station Placement

3 Main Placement Strategies

On-Street Station Sidewalk Station Public Space Station

System Network

Geographic Distribution of Stations Back-End Technology

Bike Share Around the US

Peer System ComparisonDecoBikeMiami Beach Capital BikeShare NiceRideMinnesota viaCycle@ Georgia Tech Atlanta and Decatur

Miami Beach, FLSurfside, FL

Washington, DCArlington, VAAlexandria, VA

Minneapolis, MNSt. Paul, MNFalcon Heights, MN

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GADecatur, GA

municipal/institutional boundary service area (1/4 mile buffer around all stations)

11,134 people/sq ml 8,574 people/sq ml 5,805 people/sq ml 45,430 people/sq ml 4,654 people/sq ml

7 sq ml service area 41 sq ml 39 sq ml 2 sq ml 14 sq ml

113 stations 174 stations 145 stations 8 stations 57 stations

17 stations per sq ml 4 stations per sq ml 4 stations per sq ml 4 stations per sq ml 4 stations per sq ml

800 bikes 1,279 bikes 1,328 bikes 40 bikes 570 bikes

2011 launch year 2010 launch year 2010 launch year 2011 launch year

For-profit owned and operated

Government owned, private operator

Non-profit owned and operated For-profit owned and operated

Peer System Comparison

Government OwnerGovernment OwnerGovernment OwnerGovernment OwnerPrivate OperatorPrivate OperatorPrivate OperatorPrivate OperatorPublicPublicPublicPublic and Private Fundingand Private Fundingand Private Fundingand Private Funding

NonNonNonNon----Profit OwnerProfit OwnerProfit OwnerProfit OwnerNonNonNonNon----ProfitProfitProfitProfit OperatorOperatorOperatorOperatorPublic and Private FundingPublic and Private FundingPublic and Private FundingPublic and Private Funding

ForForForFor----Profit OwnerProfit OwnerProfit OwnerProfit OwnerPrivatePrivatePrivatePrivate OperatorOperatorOperatorOperatorPrivate FundingPrivate FundingPrivate FundingPrivate Funding

Advantages

Jurisdiction has greater control over the program

Private operators have the experience to operate a service

Advantages

Minimizes financial risk to public agency

Ability to use government funding sources

As profit motive may be secondary to providing a public service, may have

Advantages

Private owner is fully responsible for funding the service

Government may benefit from a percentage of the revenue the service generates

Shifts some risk from public to private sector

providing a public service, may have economical operations costs compared with other models that demand profit

Experienced operator provides service

Disadvantages

Some risk to public agency for equipment theft and damage as well as crashes

Agency may encounter difficulties in funding the service

Disadvantages

Requires the creation of a non-profit entity with long-term commitment

Non-profit may not have expertise to operate system

Disadvantages

Municipality doesn't have as much control over the service as with other models

Level of service may be lower that what the municipality may prefer

Fee Schedule ComparisonSystemSystemSystemSystem AnnualAnnualAnnualAnnual MonthMonthMonthMonth 3333----DayDayDayDay 24242424----hourhourhourhour

viaCycle@ Georgia Techn/a $5.95 n/a n/a Prime

n/a $0 n/a n/a Standard

NiceRideMinnesota $60 $30 n/a $5

Capital BikeShare $75 $25 $15 $7

Miami DecoBike $180-$300 $15-25 n/a $24

* Annual membership not available. Based on monthly membership rate multiplied by 12 months

SystemSystemSystemSystem 0000----30 30 30 30 minminminmin

30303030----60 min60 min60 min60 min 60606060----90 min90 min90 min90 min 90909090----120 120 120 120 minminminmin

Each Each Each Each 30min 30min 30min 30min thereafterthereafterthereafterthereafter

Max 24Max 24Max 24Max 24----hr hr hr hr chargechargechargecharge

viaCycle@ Georgia Tech$0 $0 $0 $0 + $1 - $2 $17.95 Prime

$0 $0.45 $0.95 $1.95 + $1 - $2 $19.95 Standard

NiceRideMinnesota $0 $1.50 $4.50 $10.50 $6.00

Capital BikeShare

$0 $1.50 $4.50 $10.50 $6.00 $70.00 Annual Members

$2.00 $6.00 $14.00 $8.00 $94.00 Casual Members

Miami DecoBike $0 $4.00 $8.00 $12.00 $4.00

Transportation Cost Comparison

TravelTravelTravelTravel ParkingParkingParkingParking TotalTotalTotalTotal

CostCostCostCost

Bike Share 1 $1.40 n/a $1.40

Transit Fair 2 $2.50 n/a $2.50

Car Trip 3w/ metered on-street parking 4 $0.89 $2.00 $2.89

Car Trip 3w/ off-street parking 5 $0.89 $5.00 $5.89

Taxi 6 $6.60 n/a $6.00

Overall AssumptionsOverall AssumptionsOverall AssumptionsOverall Assumptions

Distance: Where distance is a factor in calculating costs, the distance of 1.5 miles is used. This distance roughly equals a 10 minute bike ride at 9 miles per hour.

Parking Time: Parking assumes a 1 hour time frame.

Notes1. NiceRide. www.niceridemn.org/subscriptions/. Accessed June 14, 2012. Based on annual membership of $60. Cost per day

based on annual membership divided by average annual trips by members of 43 trips per year. Assumes all trips are less than 30 minutes, which do not incur additional charges.

2. MARTA. Fares and Passes. www.itsmarta.com/fares-passes.aspx. Accessed June 14, 2012. Cost for single trip.3. AAA. Your Driving Costs: 2012 Edition. Based on $0.596 per mile average. Percent costs include fuel, maintenance, tires,

insurance, license, registration and taxes, depreciation, and financing.4. Park Atlanta. Parking Meters. www.parkatlanta.org/meters.html#6. Accessed June 14, 2012.5. Central Parking. find.parking.com/search/?query=atlanta%2C%20ga. Based on survey of rates for private parking lots and

garages in downtown Atlanta.6. Taxiwiz. Taxi rates for Atlanta. www.atlanta.taxiwiz.com/fare.php?lang=en. Accessed June 14, 2012. Based on $2.50 base

fare, $2.00 per mile, and 20% gratuity.

Technical Findings

Analysis Context: Transit Access

within a 5 minute bike ride of transit stations.

38%38%38%38%Residents 18-64 live

47%47%47%47%Employees work

within a 10 minute bike ride of transit stations.

68%68%68%68%Residents 18-64 live

66%66%66%66%Employees work

Analysis Context: Bicycle Facilities

Distribution of Bike Facilities by Type in Atlanta

32% (32 miles)

40% (38 miles)

Distribution of Bike Facilities by Type in Decatur

28% (28 miles)

20% (1.4 miles)

34% (2.4 miles)

46% (3.3 miles)

Analysis Overview

– Suitability Analysis

– Forecast Demand and Usage

– Operational Estimates

++++

Suitability Analysis: Process

Community Indicators

– Trip Origins

– Trip Destinations

– Transportation Network Factors

Raster Overlay Analysis

– Variables Reclassified into 1-10 ++++

====

– Variables Reclassified into 1-10 Scale

– Variables Weighted by Importance

Suitability Analysis: Results

Notes– Results create basis for service area

recommendations

– Service areas used to calculate population and employment estimates

– Results used to calculate demand estimates

Suitability Analysis: Service Areas

Suitability Analysis: Service Areas

1 in 4 1 in 4 1 in 4 1 in 4

14.114.114.114.1Area in square miles of Phase 1 service areas

1 in 4 1 in 4 1 in 4 1 in 4 Residents 18-64 in Atlanta and Decatur live within the Phase 1 service areas

1 in 2 1 in 2 1 in 2 1 in 2 Employees in Atlanta and Decatur work within the Phase 1 service areas

Suitability Analysis: BeltLine and Service Areas

Demand Analysis: Process

Community Factors

– Membership and Casual Users

– Bikes and Bike Stations

– Trip Generations

Assumptions

– Based on 2011 performance metrics for Nice Ride system

– Trip generation• Annual members = 43 trips per year

• Casual users = 2.5 trips per day• Casual users = 2.5 trips per day

– Bike and stations• 4 stations per square mile

• 10 bikes per station

– Membership rates cover• Residential population estimate

• Employee population estimate

• Student population estimate

Demand Analysis: Results

570570570570Estimated bikes for phase

1 service area

3,4223,4223,4223,422Annual members from phase 1 service areas

147,147147,147147,147147,147Estimated yearly trips by annual

members

Bike and station estimates Annual members and casual user estimates

57575757Estimated stations for phase 1 service area

30,00030,00030,00030,000Casual users from phase 1

service areas

75,00075,00075,00075,000Estimated yearly trips by casual users

Used to generate capital cost estimates.

Used to generate farebox revenue estimates.

Financial Analysis: OverviewTwo types of bike share models were analyzed.

Fixed Station System Flexible Station System

Financial Analysis: ResultsFixedFixedFixedFixed StationStationStationStation Flexible StationFlexible StationFlexible StationFlexible Station

Expenses

Capital Costs (6 years)

$3.7m $1.7mOperational Costs (6 years)

$9.2m $4.3 mTotal Expenses

$12.9m $6.0m$12.9m $6.0m

Revenue

Operating Revenue From User Fees (6 years)

$2.6m $2.6mRevenue Gap to Become Profit Neutral

$10.3m $3.4m

Note: -All estimates are in millions of dollars.

- Operations and maintenance costs include management staff, marketing budget, administration budget, backend technology, and maintenance service, among other items. The complete list can be found in the report.

Financial Analysis: Funding Sources

DecoBikeDecoBikeDecoBikeDecoBike Miami BeachMiami BeachMiami BeachMiami Beach Capital Capital Capital Capital BikeShareBikeShareBikeShareBikeShare NiceRideNiceRideNiceRideNiceRide MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota Boston Boston Boston Boston HubwayHubwayHubwayHubway

Federal CMAQ FHWA funds through local program

CMAQ FTA

State Public Health Grant

Local Vehicle decal feecommissions from transit fare media sales

Private Private investmentAdvertising space

Business sponsorship Blue Cross-Blue ShieldOther private/nonprofitinvestorsStation sponsorships

Direct system sponsor Other smaller sponsors

User Fees Membership and usage fees

Membership and usage fees

Membership and usage fees

Membership and usage fees

Technology ComparisonMajor Differences

– Access to system

– Signage

– Locking Mechanism

Fixed Station System Flexible Station System

Next Steps

Next Steps: Process

PlanningPlanningPlanningPlanning ImplementationImplementationImplementationImplementationPerformance Performance Performance Performance Tracking and Tracking and Tracking and Tracking and AssessmentAssessmentAssessmentAssessment

– Host community – Select service hours and – Track system performance – Host community conversation about bike share

– Develop community goals for bike share

– Select business model

– Identify and secure funding

– Procure vendor and operator

– Consider issues of equity and access

– Consider infrastructure improvements

– Select service hours and seasonal availability

– Program marketing and sustainability

– Address safety and livability considerations

– Develop bicycle redistribution strategy

– Develop bicycle redistribution strategy

– Develop theft and vandalism protocols

– Start riding!

– Track system performance by analyzing data

– Integrate system with transit network

– Improve bicycle visibility with marketing and education campaigns

– Promote healthy living

– Continue to calibrate system to improve accessibility based on performance, user preferences and community goals

• What are the community goals for bike sharing?

• What type of business model is appropriate for Atlanta and Decatur?

• Who should own the system?

Next Steps: Goals and Questions

• How should it be funded?

• What rules and regulations need to be in place?

Thanks for listening! Questions?

Contact Information

Rebecca Serna

Executive DirectorBrad Davis, AICP, CNU-AProject Manager, Senior Plannerb.davis@robertco.com

Executive Director

rebecca@atlantabike.org b.davis@robertco.com