Despite it being a “soft launch” for members only, City of Vancouver officials were in full tire-pumping mode at a news conference Wednesday to announce details around the city’s incoming bike-share program.
While no firm date was given for when the program, called Mobi, will be available to the public, Mayor Gregor Robertson noted 23 stations are up and running throughout the city, complete with 250 bikes.
That infrastructure is available to those who have already signed up, or will do so before the July 31 cut-off date. The city says more than 1,300 members have signed up so far.
“We’ve waited many years and we’re thrilled to have the next generation of public bikes, the latest technology, to have a really world class smart bike system here in Vancouver,” Robertson said. “We have been waiting some years for bike sharing and I know it will be well embraced by our city.”
The city’s initial estimates suggested 1,000 bikes would be available mid June, far shy of the numbers presented Wednesday. Robertson said delays in shipping and a need to further hone the system before its full public uptake were the main contributing factors.
“We want to make sure the system rolls out smoothly and free of glitches and I think this is a good way to do that,” he said.
The program’s impending introduction is five years in the making. The city’s first chosen equipment provider, Montreal-based Bixi, went bankrupt, stalling initial plans in 2013. Alta, the company picked to operate the bike share system, also faced financial challenges and Vancouver ultimately re-started its procurement process.
In February, the city announced that Cyclehop will operate the system. The city is paying Cyclehop $5 million over five years to install, operate and maintain the system
When pressed to present figures that will represent a break-even point for the city’s injection of cash, city manager Sadhu Johnston didn’t provide specifics. Instead, he said city officials have crunched some numbers based on projections from other cities, along with projected ridership and membership. Sponsorship will play a large part in making the numbers work, he added.
Politicians in Seattle recently had to inject more than $1 million into that city’s bike-share system after initial ridership projections fell short.
“There’s a pretty robust business plan that we have analyzed closely, both from city staff and our consultants that we’ve engaged on the project,” Johnston said.
Vancouver Bike Share general manager Mia Kohout said expected membership numbers will be in the range of 10,000 within the first year.
As for bike rental shops that claim the new program will cut directly into their business, Robertson stressed that both the pricing system and 50-metre buffer zones between stations and businesses should ease those issues.
“It’s really important to see that bike share is not the same business as bike rentals,” Kohout added. “This is here to improve our transportation network, it’s not made as a recreational systems for tourists.”
Once the program is fully operational at the end of the summer, the network will include 1,500 bike rentals offered at 150 docking stations.
The first phase of the network will be offered in an area bounded by Arbutus Street, West 16th Avenue, Main Street and the downtown peninsula.
The model of bikes being used are described by city officials as “European-styled upright bikes.” Each bike will have seven speeds and a free helmet rental offered. About 2,600 docking points will be available to accommodate additional trips.
Riders will use a card similar to the Compass pass to unlock a bike and return it to a docking station along with the helmet. Start-up membership prices range between $99 and $129, depending on the duration of trips.
For more info, see vancouverbikeshare.ca.
