FAQs: Public Bicycle System

• Has the City decided to implement a PBS?
• Why is the City thinking of implementing a PBS now?
• Why would the City of Vancouver (the City) want to have a PBS?
• What are the project goals?
• How will success be measured?
• When will the PBS be launched in my neighbourhood?
• Where will the bike stations be?
• How does it work?
• Vancouver has several bicycle rental shops, why do we need a PBS?
• How will a PBS impact bicycle retailers?
• Will users have to wear a helmet?
• It rains so much in Vancouver, would a PBS work here?
• Vancouver has so many hills and not that many cyclists. How would a PBS work here?
• Examples of popular public bicycle systems
• How will a PBS affect parking and traffic flow?
• Would there be more advertising in public space?

 

Has the City decided to implement a PBS?

City staff have been directed to report back on costing to implement a PBS in Vancouver, investigate a demo in Vancouver and issue an RFP. The City held a demo in June 2009 and has also been investigating the feasibility and cost of implementation. On April 15, the City issued a Request for Expressions of Interest and is currently evaluating the responses. Following this evaluation, staff will bring their recommendations to Council and Council will decide whether or not to pursue implementation of a PBS in Vancouver.

Why is the City thinking of implementing a PBS now?

1. The City was actually exploring the concept of a PBS in Vancouver back in 2009 and held two PBS demos in that year. However, Staff were re-allocated to other time-sensitive work programs, such as the Olympics.
2. In retrospect, the City benefited from this delay as the additional time has provided us with the opportunity to observe and learn from other North American systems that have launched in the interim.

Why would the City of Vancouver (the City) want to have a PBS?

In addition to supporting active and healthy living, PBS extends the reach of transit and walking trips, reduces transit trips to help create transit capacity, and triggers renewed interest and participation in cycling in general.

What are the project goals?

Project goals are to:

1. Increase the overall volume of cycling trips in Vancouver;
2. Extend the reach of vehicle, transit and walking trips; and
3. Replace vehicle and transit trips.

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How will success be measured?

In addition to the extent to which the PBS goals are achieved, the City would consider the following factors in evaluating the success of a PBS in Vancouver:

1. Long-term financial sustainability, and

2. Support of users and the general public.

When will the PBS be launched in my neighbourhood ?

1. The 2008 TransLink PBS Feasibility Study found that the PBS “is feasible in parts of Metro Vancouver where residential and employment densities are high, land use are diverse, and good cycling facilities are available”.
2. The City expects that the initial launch phase would be in the Metro Core, an area including and surrounding the Downtown Peninsula, bounded by Burrard Street, 16th Avenue and Clark Drive. However, the extent of the initial launch and the rate of system expansion to other Vancouver neighbourhoods will depend largely on the proposals we receive from potential operators.  The 2008 TransLink PBS Feasibility Study suggested 1,000 bikes for the Downtown Peninsula.
3. Staff will make recommendations to Council in summer 2011 and, if Council decides to proceed with a PBS, launch in Vancouver could be as early as spring 2012, prior to the 2012 VeloCity conference to be held in June 2012 in Vancouver.

Where will the bike stations be?

1. Stations would be conveniently located, near transportation hubs, entertainment and sporting venues, community centres, libraries, hospitals and other heavily-used destinations.
2. Near the street, on City-owned land, land owned by other public agencies or institutions, or on private property.
3. Roadway locations would be considered, although off-roadway locations are strongly preferred.
4. Priority would be given to station locations that optimize system utilization and consider such factors as visibility, minimal impacts to pedestrian / vehicle traffic flow and potential for future expansion.

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How does it work?

1. Convenient, attractive and integrated system including a fleet of bicycles parked at secure, user-friendly self-service automated stations.
2. Users may check out bicycles at one station and return them to any other station.
3. PBS bikes were demonstrated twice during the summer of 2009: once at City Hall and once on the seawall south of Telus World of Science. 
4. The system would likely be similar to the systems in Paris, Lyon, Montreal and other third-generation systems, which feature electronically locking bike docks and the use of technology to track and monitor the system.
5. Re-distribution of bicycles around the system on a constant basis would ensure there are sufficient bicycles and docks available for users at all station locations.
6. The pricing structure varies from one system to another, but typically there is a membership fee that allows access to the PBS for a defined period (e.g., one year) and then a time-based usage fee.  Often, the usage fee is waived for less than 30 minutes use.
7. The pricing structure for a PBS in Vancouver has not been established. It will depend on the business model of the selected Applicant, if Council decides to proceed with a PBS.

Vancouver has several bicycle rental shops, why do we need a PBS?

1. A PBS and bicycle rental shops are typically aimed at different target markets. A potential PBS in Vancouver is not intended to replace bicycle rental shops. Just as the existence of a transit system doesn’t change the need for car rentals, a PBS doesn’t replace the need for bicycle rental shops.
2. A PBS usually targets people wanting to make short one-way trips. It provides many locations from which to retrieve and return bikes giving users significant flexibility to meet their transportation needs.
3. However, the pricing structure of most PBS’s typically discourages longer trips of the type that are served well by bicycle rental shops.
4. The weight and size of the PBS bike, typically larger and heavier than rental bikes, are also not conducive to longer trips.

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How will a PBS impact bicycle retailers?

What we’re hearing from other cities who have implemented a PBS is that PBS tends to trigger an increase in cycling in general and this is translating into more business for bicycle retailers.

 

Will users have to wear a helmet?

1. The system and users would be expected to operate in full compliance with the City Bylaws, the BC Motor Vehicle Act, and other applicable statutes and regulations.
2. The BC Motor Vehicle Act’s requirement for mandatory helmet usage would apply to PBS users.
3. Applicants to the RFEOI are expected to develop a comprehensive strategy to operate in compliance with BC’s mandatory helmet legislation.

It rains so much in Vancouver, would a PBS work here?

1. Even with the rain, many people cycle throughout the year.  For example, summer (July and August) is the peak cycling season across the Burrard Bridge with 120,000 trips per month, but the winter months (November to January) still average about 40,000 trips per month.
2. Other cycling cities, such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, have similar climates and high numbers of cyclists.
3. London, another City with a reputation for rain, launched a PBS in 2010 with 6,000 bikes and is planning for an expansion by adding another 2,000 bikes.

Vancouver has so many hills and not that many cyclists. How would a PBS work here?

1. City staff would ensure that the bikes selected for the PBS have enough gears to accommodate Vancouver’s hills.
2. A number of other hilly cities have also implemented PBS, such as the Paris Velib.  As a means to balance the numbers of bikes at the top and bottom of hills, Velib implemented a successful credit system that provides incentives for PBS users to ride uphill.

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Examples of popular public bicycle systems

1. 238 systems worldwide in 2010, up from only 11 systems in 2004.
2. The Paris Velib system (18,000 bikes) was launched in summer 2007, made over 50 million trips in 2008 and 2009, and just reached it's 1,000,000 trips in June 2011.
3. The Montreal BIXI system (5,000 bikes) was launched in 2008 and has grown its annual membership from 11,000 in 2009 to 28,000 in 2010.
4. Mexico City ECOBIC (1,200 bikes) was used 1.2 million times in the first year.
5. The Washington DC Capital BikeShare (1,000 bikes) was launched in September 2010 and has reached 550,000 bike trips so far.

How will a PBS affect parking and traffic flow ?

As much as possible, stations would be located off-road. In some cases, off-road locations wouldn’t be feasible and stations would need to be located on the sidewalk or on the street.

Would there be more advertising in public space?

1. Advertising may be considered as one of the potential funding sources, if a PBS in Vancouver proceeds.
2. Any advertising would be regulated through the City's existing By-laws.
3. Advertising may be in the form of project sponsorship.

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