Quay Communications Inc. TransLink March 2008

Public Bike StudyPUBLIC BIKE SYSTEM – FEASIBILITY STUDY

TransLinkPublic Bike SystemFeasibility Study

PBS Feasibility StudyMarch 2008Quay Communications Inc

Quay Communications Inc. TransLink March 2008

Public Bike Study2FOREWORD

cover page photo credit - Bicing, Barcelona by photographer vdbdc

Quay Communications Inc. TransLink March 2008

Public Bike Study3EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a Public Bicycle System (PBS) for MetroVancouver, review the range of possible financing and administrative models, provide anassessment of the potential costs, and recommend a business strategy.Ultimately, this study concludes that PBS delivers significant real benefits and is feasible in parts of Metro Vancouver where residential and employment densities are high, land uses are diverse, andgood cycling facilities are available. The study recommends that PBS be positioned as part of thepublic transit network and that TransLink should be responsible for its delivery in the same way thatit owns, plans, and funds other transit services.

Background

A typical PBS consists of a fleet of bicycles, a network of automated docking stations to store andaccess the bicycles, a user registration system, a system status information system, a maintenanceprogram and a bicycle redistribution mechanism. Existing systems are funded by a mix of subscription revenues and general public revenues, including revenues derived from the sale of advertising rights and parking charges. All existing systems are controlled by a public agency[municipality or transportation agency] but a number of operating models are in use ranging fromcompletely contracted out services to in-house systems.Several major European cities, Paris, Barcelona, and Lyon in particular, have launched major PublicBicycle Systems that have redefined the perception and the potential of the bicycle as a mainstreampublic transit mode. These cities have been successful in introducing the bicycle as a core publictransit mode specifically aimed at short trips under 5km. The German Rail Agency has introduced asimilar system, Call a Bike, operated by its DB Rent division in six German cities to facilitate inter-city travel and service customers at either end of rail trips.

Table 1 Mainstream Public Bicycle Systems

Paris Barcelona Lyon Frankfurt Montreal

Vancouver

Agency

Municipal Municipal Municipal Federal Regional

TBD

Operator

JCDecaux Clear ChannelJCDecaux DBRent StationnementMontreal

TBD

Population

2,153,600 1,605,600 466,400 652,600 1,039,500

578,000

# Bicycles

20,600 3000* 3000** 720 2400

3800

#Residents/Bicycle

104 535 155 906 433

152

OperatingAgency

Third-PartyContractor Third-PartyContractor Third-PartyContractor State Railway Regional Agency

TBD

Funding

Subscriptions& Outdoor AdvertisingSubscriptions& ParkingRevenuesSubscriptions& Outdoor AdvertisingSubscriptions& GeneralRevenuesSubscriptions& ParkingRevenues