St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission
Bike Share Feasibility
• Selection
• Purpose
• Bike Share Overview
• Case Study Analysis
• Demand Analysis
• Demand Thresholds
• Recommendations
• Next Steps
Overview
•We chose this project because the concept of Bikesharing is a growing trend in cities throughout the US and World.• To capitalize on the fact that the City of Port Huron can and should be
a tourist attraction in the State of Michigan.
• Submitted this project to Michigan State University’s Planning Program, to have a group of students in the Practicum Class conduct the study for us.
Selection
Purpose•Determine the feasibility of a
bikeshare program in St Clair County,
primarily in the City of Port Huron.
• This region continues to grow and
develop, and we realize the
importance of providing
transportation alternatives to the
traditional single occupancy vehicle.
•Importance of sustainable
communities in regards to air quality
or for the overall health and well-
being of the community.
Benefits
Social
Economic
Transit
Environmental
Bike Share Overview
• Short – term bicycle rental
• Commonly concentrated in urban settings
• An “as-needed” transportation option
• Operate via unattended stations (i.e. kiosk)
• Unlock in response to membership keys and/or customer credit card
Bike Share Generations
This study sought to compare bike share programs of a smaller scale with a similar population as Port Huron.
Case Study Analysis
Washington D.C. Spartanburg, SC
Pullman, WA
Salem, MA
Minneapolis, MN
Population of Port Huron: 30,184 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)
Program # of Bikes
# of Stations
Population
Ownership
Trips / Year
# of Members
Salem Spins
20 2 41,000 City of Salem
~ 2,000 n/a
Spartanburg B-Cycle
15 2 37,000 Partners for Active Living
~ 3,700 450
Greenbike (WSU)
120 9 28,300 Washington State University
~ 17,000 10,000
Programs of Similar Size
Source: Greenbike.WSU.edu
Demand Analysis
Anticipated UsersBike share is attracting new users of all ages, sizes, and types.
Statistically significant indicators of ridership levels were race, income and high-income jobs, alternative commuters, and total jobs, among others (Monterey
County Draft Bicycle Sharing Feasibility and Implementation Plan, 2012).
Market AnalysisGIS Analysis
A GIS analysis captures preliminary indicators of population, job, and retail densities.
Community IndicatorsSpecial consideration is given to the combination of the tourist population demand for bike share as well as the local conditions, opportunities, and population of Port Huron.
“Bike share can capture a new market of bicyclists, reaching beyond the anticipated users.”
- St. Clair County Bike Share Feasibility Analysis, 2013
Location
Indicators of a Successful Bike Share
Retail
Job
Population
GIS Analysis: St. Clair County
Higher Population Density =
potential for greater market demand
The more use of bikes, within a
dense population, the more visible
the program (if branded with bright
colors), thus the cyclical opportunity
for continued ridership.
Population Density
Higher employment density yields
greater access to potential bike share
users (Bike sharing in the United States: State of the
Practice and Guide to Implementation, 2012, pp. 17).
Port Huron Hospital has the most
number of employees in the county,
with 1,750 employees (Economic
Development Alliance of St. Clair County, 2010).
Job Density
Bike share users need a destination,
and retail stores provide a utilitarian
purpose for bicycling.
Retail density needs to be combined
with a safe, visual, and easily
accessible bike route to the
destination.
Retail Density
GIS Analysis
Factors chosen to be significant specifically to Port Huron include:
Community Indicators: City of Port Huron
•Bicycle infrastructure •Connection to Transit •Community Colleges •Community and Tourist Attractions • Tourism Population •Parks and Recreation Areas
•Income and Race •Expenditures •Commuting Distances and Mode Share •Topography •Weather
Paralleling the community indicators, thresholds are compared to existing conditions in Port Huron, MI.
Were determined from the case studies, including:• Salem, MA
• Spartanburg, SC
• Pullman, WA
Demand Thresholds
Recommendations1. Station Location Analysis
2. Community Surveys
3. Bike Share Programmatic Summary System Bikes & Stations Financial Feasibility
4. Supporting Actions
Station Location AnalysisStations can be placed on
public or private property .
The locations should also be
checked for (1) cell
reception, and (2) proper
dimensions for the station
style/bike share program
chosen
source:“BikeSharing in the United States,” 2013.
source: www.denverpost.com
Spaced 0.25 miles apart
2:1 ratio [docks to bikes]
Station Location SurveyTo provide potential station locations, 45 professionals from Port Huron were contacted via email, with 11 responses (24% response rate)
Each contact provided their top five locations based on their professional knowledge, and experience from residency.
Its recommended to perform a community wide survey for the demand for bicycling and bike share, the promotion of the system, and to analyze the desired placement of stations.
Community Surveys
System The bike and station provider would be determined by competitive bid, or a cost
comparison Higher technology provides more ease of use, more security for the bicycle,
branding and marketing opportunities, more efficiency energy use, and much more.
Bikes and Stations Phased-out model 2 stations (kiosk) and 11 docks 5 to 6 bikes per station (kiosk)
Financial Feasibility Public –Private Partnership Fee Matrix:o $5 daily feeo Free 1st hour and subsequent fees for additional ½ hours
Cost: o Approximately, $76,000 (capital costs) & $27,000 (maintenance/operating, per
yr)
Bike Share Programmatic Summary
Supporting Actions
Sponsorship
Partnerships
AdvertisingMarketing
Promotion
Next Steps•Establish Partnerships
•St. Clair County RESA
•Port Huron Museum
•St. Clair County Community College
•Port Huron Hospital
•Business Model•Selecting/Developing
Thank you !
Photo courtesy: St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission
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