Finances of Pittsburgh Bike Share? (Lawrenceville, Penn: 2015, rentals, income)

[tyovan4]

I was wondering if anyone else had come across any news articles or documents about how Pittsburgh Bike Share operates financially?

From my understanding, NGOs purchased the stations and bikes - which became City property.

However, where does their revenue go? Does it go to City coffers, or do they hold it independently?

I'm just curious, as I thought about the effect of the stations on parking. The City is losing revenue from the lost parking spaces, and I was curious how those lost funds were recouped by the City? (ie - does operating income go to the City, or if not is there some sort of lease agreement where the City is compensated for the parking spaces lost to the stations, etc)

I don't think this is an aspect that has been covered in the media yet, which is why I'm asking on this resource if anyone has information or insight they may share?

(I'm also not trying to turn this into a cyclists vs drivers vs pedestrians debate - I want to talk solely about the topic listed)

Thanks in advance for any insight other posters may be able to provide!

[stburr91]

Interesting question. My understanding is that no bike share in the world generates a profit. It's likely that the bike share costs the city money to operate, so I don't see how it would recoup the money from the lost parking.

[Moby Hick]

There are only 50 stations and not all of them replaced parking spots. Two of the three I can think of most readily (because I walk by them nearly daily) are on the sidewalk.

[Geeo]

As I understand it, the bike sharing program is funded by foundations and other money and does not cost the city anything in capital. While some of the stations are on the street, each station eliminates only two parking spaces. A lot of the stations are on wide sidewalks or in parks and do not eliminate parking spaces.

[selltheburgh]

I think Geeo is correct. I know a lot of the money comes from foundations, etc. Also bike pittsburgh is partnered with them and used their resources to get it started and to get foundation money.

A lot of the on street spaces are in permit parking areas that aren't right in front of somebody's house. Crazy Mocha in bloomfield, 42nd St in Lawrenceville.

Stats from an employee as of today:
29 stations, 320 bikes, 1 week, 3000 rentals.

I'm sure a lot of the rentals are novelty first time riders, but as it grows, it'll probably even out.

[doo dah]

Sponsored by Highmark and AHN.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by selltheburgh

I think Geeo is correct. I know a lot of the money comes from foundations, etc. Also bike pittsburgh is partnered with them and used their resources to get it started and to get foundation money.

A lot of the on street spaces are in permit parking areas that aren't right in front of somebody's house. Crazy Mocha in bloomfield, 42nd St in Lawrenceville.

Stats from an employee as of today:
29 stations, 320 bikes, 1 week, 3000 rentals.

I'm sure a lot of the rentals are novelty first time riders, but as it grows, it'll probably even out.

I was considering renting one today to ride down Penn Avenue to the Three Rivers Arts Festival. I think this is a great idea, and even as a delivery driver I don't mind losing valuable parking spaces if it means our cycling friends have easier access to safer streets.

[Pitt Chick]

I was bummed when I arrived in the Strip Thursday and turned at St Patricks to snare a parking spot... only to see the lineup of bikes!
The friend I was meeting said the same happened to her in a different area.

Two rental bike idiots were darting in and through traffic by the Fairmont Saturday night... and they were up weaving through pedestrians on the sidewalks. Post-PSO so it was crowded, and they almost knocked over a lady with their antics. Hit into a cab and we thought there would be a fight.
Not cool at all.

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

I was bummed when I arrived in the Strip Thursday and turned at St Patricks to snare a parking spot... only to see the lineup of bikes!
The friend I was meeting said the same happened to her in a different area.

Two rental bike idiots were darting in and through traffic by the Fairmont Saturday night... and they were up weaving through pedestrians on the sidewalks. Post-PSO so it was crowded, and they almost knocked over a lady with their antics. Hit into a cab and we thought there would be a fight.
Not cool at all.

So some people suck at riding bikes... it's still way less dangerous than the people that suck at driving.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

I was bummed when I arrived in the Strip Thursday and turned at St Patricks to snare a parking spot... only to see the lineup of bikes!
The friend I was meeting said the same happened to her in a different area.

Two rental bike idiots were darting in and through traffic by the Fairmont Saturday night... and they were up weaving through pedestrians on the sidewalks. Post-PSO so it was crowded, and they almost knocked over a lady with their antics. Hit into a cab and we thought there would be a fight.
Not cool at all.

That's one of my worries about the bikes. It's bad enough driving when there are folks on bikes who ignore rules of the road, but now with people who don't even know enough to ignore the rules I'm afraid it's a setup for lots of bad things to happen.

As for Saturday, I went to the PSO and I couldn't believe the number of tweens walking around downtown! Quite a few of them were dressed in a way that they really shouldn't have been given their age, but maybe I'm just an old geezer now.