HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 3/17/2020 - Memorandum From Paul Sizemore Re: Fort Collins Bike Share UpdateFC Moves
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P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
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Planning, Development & Transportation
MEMORANDUM
Date: March 10, 2020
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, Director of Planning, Development & Transportation
From: Paul Sizemore, Senior Manager – FC Moves
CC: Tessa Greegor, Active Modes Manager
RE: Fort Collins Bike Share Update
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction and Overview
The purpose of this memo is to provide City Council with an update on the Fort Collins
Bike Share Program (Pace Fort Collins) and upcoming system change details.
The Fort Collins Bike Share Program launched in 2016, with 16 stations and 79
bikes. The program operates through a contract between the City and a private
vendor/operator, Zagster.
In 2018, Zagster rebranded the program as Pace and expanded the system to
include 250 bikes and 42 public docking stations.
Although Fort Collins Bike Share has experienced significant ridership growth in
the past several years, it is necessary for Zagster to scale back its system to
ensure the financial sustainability of the program.
The program will maintain 125 bike share bikes (including 4 accessible bikes) and
28 bike share stations, focusing on high ridership locations, sponsored stations,
and connections to MAX.
2020 marks 5 years since the inception of the bike share contract, necessitating a
new competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that will result in a new
vendor/operator contract.
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Bike Share System Changes Over Time
Number of Bikes Number of Stations
At System Launch 79 16
With Pace Expansion 250 42
After March 2020 125 28
Discussion
In 2015, the City initiated a competitive RFP process that resulted in the selection of
Zagster, a full-service bike share company, to launch the Fort Collins Bike Share
Program. Zagster owns and operates the Fort Collins Bike Share system through a
master contract with the City. Zagster also maintains annual sponsorship contracts with
multiple local sponsors. Of the system, 91 bikes and 18 stations are currently sponsored
with 37 bikes and 7 stations sponsored by the City.
In 2018, Zagster rebranded the program as Pace and added 145 bikes to the system and
23 new docking stations. These changes were made at no additional cost to the City.
The program expansion allowed for new bike share stations to be placed along the MAX
line, along the Harmony corridor, in North Fort Collins, and at multiple parks and trail
access points across town.
Beginning in mid-March, Zagster will scale back the bike share program to a level that is
financially sustainable for their company. The system will be a slightly larger system than
what was in place before the Pace expansion in 2018, with 125 bikes (including four
accessible bikes) and 28 stations. High ridership and sponsored stations will be
maintained, along with stations in key locations serving equity goals. City staff, Zagster
and Bike Fort Collins are partnering to ensure station hosts, sponsors, and bike share
users are informed of the changes.
The City’s contract with Zagster expires in late 2020. The City will release an RFP
soliciting proposals for a bike share vendor to begin a new contract this summer / fall.
Bike share and shared mobility programs have evolved significantly since Fort Collins
launched its current bike share program in 2016. This presents an opportunity to
reimagine the bike share program, remain on the cutting edge of shared mobility, and
ensure the program moving forward provides the best service and a financially
sustainable model for the community.
Since the program launch in April 2016, approximately 44,000 trips have been taken using
the bike share system. Between 2018 and 2019, bike share trips more than doubled.
Although the system changes may impact ridership in 2020, the City, Zagster and our
nonprofit partners are committed to promoting the use of the program through various
marketing strategies and upcoming events.
Next Steps
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Downsizing of the Pace fleet will occur between March 15 and April 1
Stakeholder engagement will occur concurrently
The Request for Proposal process for a new contract will be initiated in the spring
For more information, please contact Tessa Greegor at tgreegor@fcgov.com.
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