Bikeshare permit program

We expect our bikeshare program will have numerous benefits:

Solve public transit’s last-mile problem

The first or last part of the trip between the bus stop and a user’s final destination is one of the main challenges that often pushes residents from regularly using transit. Bikeshare can help connect residents to transit services and make transit their first choice.

A five-minute walk is roughly 400 metres, but by cycling you can cover four times that distance in the same timeframe. Multimodal trips using bikeshare in other cities have been integrated into trip planning software (such as Transit App) to make trips more flexible and ultimately faster. In many cases, bikeshare might enable transit riders to eliminate a transfer or more seamlessly feed into transit.  

Help us make better evidence-based decision making

While multiple bikeshare models deliver different types of data, the bikeshare pilot gives us access to anonymous data about start and endpoints, as well as travel patterns for users. This detailed bicycle data will help us make better decisions in prioritizing infrastructure and understanding where people are biking.

Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

A bikeshare system will provide additional transportation options that will help reduce auto dependency for certain residents in our community. Roughly 20 per cent of all bikeshare trips in other cities would have been made by automobile. Bikeshare is supportive of Kelowna’s GHG reduction goals as described within the Community Climate Action Plan.

Support active transportation

The creation of additional cycling infrastructure and programs aligns with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. A bikeshare system could potentially support Council’s objective that “by 2036, 25 per cent of all trips less than five kilometres in length are made by walking and cycling.”

Improve road safety

Cities with bikeshare found a decrease in injury rates (per kilometre ridden) with respect to both general and head injuries compared to numbers from cities without a bikeshare system. Bikeshare collision and injury rates are also lower than previously calculated rates for personal bikes.

Improve transportation choice and cost of living

Bikeshare programs are typically affordable and inexpensive to use. The availability of bikes for rent improves transportation choice for Kelowna residents and visitors.

Reduce car use and congestion

Using data from Capital Bikeshare in Washington, D.C., researchers found measurable reductions in automobile congestion following the introduction of bikeshare programs. This is a possibility with a bikeshare system in Kelowna, but would depend on various factors.

Support the tourism economy

Bikeshare systems are attractive for tourists and visitors to Kelowna who want to experience the city without the cost and inconvenience of driving and parking. A bikeshare program is a valuable amenity that would improve the experience of many visitors and enable tourists to visit businesses and attractions beyond a comfortable walk. Tourism Kelowna has expressed its support for a bikeshare system.

As staff evaluated the safety impact of bikeshare in other jurisdictions and engaged stakeholders, we considered how to design this service to comply with the mandatory helmet law and keep riders safe. Bikeshare users are expected to follow bylaws and the rules of the road to keep themselves and other safe.

Although we initially considered shared helmets for the pilot program, we didn’t pursue this option for two reasons: safety and hygiene.

Safety

The protective ability of helmets is greatly reduced after a primary impact. It would be very difficult to continuously test and guarantee the safety benefits of a helmet fleet that could climb to more than 1,000 over the course of the pilot. From a safety perspective, there would be no guarantee that a previous rider hadn't damaged the helmet that would accompany your bike. If a rider was injured while wearing a helmet that had experienced prior impact, there’s a potential for this risk to be borne by the bikeshare provider and the City because of the lack of safety precautions and system-wide helmet tests.

Hygiene

While the vast majority of bikeshare systems don’t provide helmets with bicycles, there are jurisdictions where bike helmets are share. These systems exist mainly where mandatory, all-ages bike helmet laws are in effect and where the municipality pays the upfront capital cost for the system. The most notable examples of this are Pronto in Seattle (now defunct), Mobi in Vancouver and Melbourne Bikeshare in Australia. Staff have not found a measurable difference in terms of helmet use per rider when comparing systems that offer helmets versus jurisdictions that don’t offer helmets and expect riders to bring a helmet with them.

Bikeshare has a historically lower rate of helmet use than personal bikes. We expect the mandatory helmet law in B.C. to bump up helmet use in Kelowna’s bikeshare system compared to jurisdictions without an all-ages helmet law. Outside of shared helmets, there are certain things staff can do to increase the number of bikeshare riders wearing helmets. One idea is to ensure information about the helmet law and discounts on helmets are available through the provider’s app or other point-of-sale application by partnering with local bike helmet retailers who want to participate.

We are responsible for the costs of overseeing the bikeshare permit holders. Bikeshare providers are responsible for their operating costs. 

If you’re a private property owner or manager, please contact individual bikeshare operators to discuss setting up bikeshare service on your private property.