DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City wide
SUBJECT:
San Antonio B-Cycle Bike Share Program
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the San Antonio B-Cycle Bike Share Program
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
San Antonio B-Cycle, the first and largest public bike share program in the State of Texas, currently consists of 55 bike share stations and 450 bikes. B-cycle Stations are placed at key downtown destinations and housing sites, and adjacent to key transit stops throughout the Downtown area. Additionally, San Antonio B-Cycle provides 14 stations along the Mission Reach for a unique alternative transportation option while visiting each of San Antonio’s historic missions. The City of San Antonio owns all B-Cycle equipment (docks, bikes, and stations), which has been purchased with funding from two sources: Federal Stimulus funding and the Federal Transit Administration Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in the Parks program funding. The City maintains a contract for the continuous operations and maintenance of the bike share program with San Antonio Bike Share, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
ISSUE:
On May 14, 2015, City Council approved an amendment (Amendment Eight) to the agreement between the City of San Antonio and San Antonio Bike Share to provide a greater commitment to San Antonio Bike Share in the form of funding for support including: $97,517 to fund an Executive Director for one year and to develop a business plan, and $23,983 in direct operational support. On September 10, 2015, City Council approved an amendment (Amendment Nine) to provide San Antonio Bike Share an additional $35,308 in direct operational support and $25,000 to establish a challenge match fundraising program. Beginning October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016, the City will match, on a dollar for dollar basis, donations for operations or capital investments raised by San Antonio Bike Share up to a maximum of $25,000 in City funds and up to $100,000 in total contributions from all participating sources including VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority and the San Antonio River Authority. Additional support for San Antonio Bike Share includes an agreement from Hemisfair Park Redevelopment Corporation to lease Building 204 (aka Pereida House) to San Antonio Bike Share for five years at zero rent and this office move will occur spring 2016.
On September 28, 2015, the City of San Antonio hired Donna Simpson as the organization’s new Executive Director. As an employee within the City’s Office of Sustainability tasked with leading San Antonio Bike Share, Ms. Simpson reports to both the Chief Sustainability Officer and the San Antonio Bike Share’s Board of Directors. On December 17, 2015, City Council approved the appointment of three additional members to San Antonio Bike Share’s Board of Directors, bringing the organization’s Board to nine full members with a diverse set of skills and representation to successfully lead the organization.
San Antonio Bike Share’s Executive Director has evaluated each of the locations associated with the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Transportation Enhancement expansion, and has recommended moving forward with a phase one installation of three new stations, as well as acquiring 50 of B-Cycle’s new and improved bike share bikes. These new locations are the DoSeum, the Pearl, and San Antonio College. Additional stations are under evaluation for potential future installation phases.
Future milestones for San Antonio Bike Share’s leadership include the adoption of a formal business plan by the Board of Directors, development of a fundraising plan, and execution of the City’s Challenge Match program to secure additional long term financial support for the program.
ALTERNATIVES:
There are no alternatives to propose as this is a staff briefing only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this briefing.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a briefing is to provide an update on the San Antonio B-Cycle Bike Share Program. No immediate City Council action is required.