More Bikes to Share in San José and San Mateo
Almost a year ago, we shared that the existing Bay Area Bike Share pilot would be expanding its system from 750 to over 7,000 bikes by the end of 2017. Of note for SVBC members, the San José system will expand to 1,000 bikes! That's great news for people who want more options to get around, whether to their job or fun destinations. You can now see and comment on the proposed new bike share stations in downtown San José.Meanwhile, the Peninsula pilot cities - Redwood City, Palo Alto, and Mountain View - were given until May 30, 2016 to decide whether they will pay to maintain or expand their Bay Area Bike Share system. Motivate, the company that has taken over the operations, will be funding the overall expansion, but not in these three cities. SVBC has been in conversation with all three cities, local companies, and other stakeholders to help determine what the next move should be on the Peninsula. This week, SVBC wrote a letter to each city expressing our overall support for bike share on the Peninsula, whether it's with Bay Area Bike Share, or another type of system. We want to work toward a system that functions best for the lower density Peninsula cities. City Councils will be taking up this issue over the next month. If they are unable or unwilling to pay for Bay Area Bike Share moving forward, the bikes will be removed on June 30, 2016.City of San Mateo has chosen a different bike share system: Bay Bikes, using smart bikes from Social Bicycles, will debut on Bike to Work Day, May 12. There will be 50 bicycles and 10-12 stations. These aren't the same type of stations used by Bay Area Bike Share though; Bay Bikes will be stationed in geo-fenced bike racks. Users can also leave their bike outside the designated areas for a small fee. Additionally, a $15/month membership will include 1-hour rides (greater than the 30 minute rides of Bay Area Bike Share) or people can take a $5/hour ride. Check out a map of the new system.The Peninsula cities will be watching the San Mateo system closely: this could be a better model for cities of a smaller size and there are some opportunities to make a joint Peninsula system throughout. Stay tuned as things develop.Do you use Bay Area Bike Share? Will you be upset if it goes away from the Peninsula? Will you benefit from an expanded system in San José? Let us know in the comments!
