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