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From an article published by the Raleigh Public Record about the latest Council meeting:
Quote:
lengthy presentation on the City's proposed BikeShare program from Transportation Director Eric Lamb.
"Traditionally bikeshare systems are kiosk-based automated self-service bike rental systems," Lamb explained.
"We're trying to encourage a system that has point-to-point station-to-station trips. Typically people buy memberships, whether annual or daily."
In 2009, bikeshare was introduced as an action item in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and in 2013 Council approved the selection of Toole Design Group to develop a feasibility study and implementation plan. In 2014, TDG determined that such a system was feasible in Raleigh, and proposed an implementation plan. In 2015, it was not included in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget.
Lamb said the initial roll out plan would include 30 stations at a total capital cost of around $2 million, which would be covered by a Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Grant offered through the Capital Area Metropolitan Organization. In order to receive this grant, however, the city would have to allocate $425,000 in matching funds.
In addition to the $2 million capital outlay grant, the City would also be eligible for a $125,000 grant covering the design and planning of the system.
Lamb said the projected annual cost of operation was around $653,000, $215,000 of which would be recovered through user fees. The City would be responsible for the additional $438,000.
The initial plan, Lamb said, would be "relatively compact" and centered around downtown and NC State. Stations would also be put in place at Meredith College, Peace College, St. Augustine's Unviersity and Shaw University. Although no commitments have been made at this time, Councilors asked staff to look into financial partnerships with these universities to help offset the cost of the stations.
I'm an avid cyclists and proponent of multi-modal transportation but in my opinion BikeShare just doesn't make sense in Raleigh unless private money is going to cover a significant chunk of it. I just don't see a whole lot of people using it.
I'm an avid cyclists and proponent of multi-modal transportation but in my opinion BikeShare just doesn't make sense in Raleigh unless private money is going to cover a significant chunk of it. I just don't see a whole lot of people using it.
Who do you foresee being the primary users? What's the profile of the user?
Who do you foresee being the primary users? What's the profile of the user?
I can see college students (NC State, Meredith, Peace, Shaw etc..) using it to get between downtown/Cameron Village and school. I could see low-income residents east of downtown using it though the program does require use of a credit card which may be a deterrant. Other than that I'm not sure - there is the R-Line downtown that you can use to get around downtown (which isn't that big to begin with, you can easily walk from Fayetteville Street to Glenwood Ave).
Honestly it depends where they decide to place the stations.
Honestly it depends where they decide to place the stations.
This, pretty much. I can see it working if it's confined to the NCSU, Hillsborough Street, and immediate downtown districts. If they partnered with NCSU, Meredith, Peace, and Shaw -- it'd help get the word out.
My thoughts are that it's sort of like Uber for bikes. If it's available where it's actually needed, and priced right, and accessible, it may get some use. I'm an avid biker too, and I travel a lot. I've seen these in other cities, and for whatever reason (as bad as I want to ride when I'm not at home), I've never tried it.
I fear that Raleigh is not densely populated enough to make it work. The best hope (IMO) is having them all over all of the big college campuses, so people can use them to get inter and intra campus. Big if though.
Every fiber of me wants things like this to happen and succeed, but I really can't say I have a great feeling about it here and now.
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