B-cycle: What's in a bike sharing program?

A year ago, I participated in the brainstorming process that the city promoted online to seek ideas for our vision for Fort Lauderdale in 2035. There, I mentioned how important it is for Fort Lauderdale to have an excellent bike infrastructure that safely promotes a healthy lifestyle among its residents.

We are privileged to have this weather; can you imagine riding a bike in the middle of the winter in Chicago or New York? Brrr! What about having no hills? Fort Lauderdale terrain is pretty much flat except when one crosses a draw bridge across New River or the Intercoastal Waterways. Can you imagine riding your bike every day in San Francisco or Seattle? Ouch! So why don't we take advantage of what nature has given us and make Fort Lauderdale the envy of European cities and their bike friendly communities? Many people complain that they don't go biking because that would require actually buying one. Storing it also becomes a hassle. OK, that's understandable; so, how do we engage our citizens into a more healthy lifestyle?

That's where Broward B-cycle comes along. Launched on December 14, 2011, this bike sharing program was aimed at making it quick, easy, and convenient for local residents, workers, and visitors to get around Broward County on a bike; making it economical and convenient to use bikes for trips that are too far to walk but too short to drive. Currently, the program has 14 bike stations all around the city where one could grab a bike and go. These stations are conveniently located at several city parks, one across from the Broward Courthouse, one on Las Olas, one at the Broward Convention Center, and several all over the beach. 

B-cycle Stations around Fort Lauderdale as of October 2013

Esplanade Park Station

Benefits from cycling are well known. According to Discovery News, cycling is good for your heart, muscles, waistline, lifespan, coordination, mental health, and immune system. Moreover, as an investment in transportation infrastructure, creating bike lanes for riders or even to implement citywide bike sharing programs tends to be cheap,  providing a cost-effective mean of public transportation, if compared with the cost of widening a city street for a mile. Among all programs in North America that have at least 275 bikes or more, Broward B-cycle charges the least ($45 for an annual membership) as a proportion of their per capita income according to Bikeshare. So, if we have incredible weather, easy terrain to navigate, and the cheapest system in our country, why, then, is bike sharing not as popular in Fort Lauderdale? What can we learn from Decobike and its success in Miami Beach?

WRLN's article "A Tale of two Bike Shares from Miami Beach to Broward" justifies the difference in ridership to Miami Beach's lack of parking spaces while in Broward parking is aplenty. Also, the density of stations is a lot higher in Miami Beach, a 18.7 sq mile area. Broward's bike sharing program version is countywide that serves 6 different cities; therefore, stations are far from each other. However, the city of Fort Lauderdale, a 36 sq mile area, has a good share of stations (half of the current number of active stations countywide) that if increased, it could boost ridership.  So what does the city of Fort Lauderdale (and its citizens) need to do?

Las Olas & 8th Ave Station

Cities need to consider deployment of stations in areas where increased population and job densities positively impact ridership. These stations need to be no more than 1/2 mile apart to minimize the distance users must walk to access the service; and in locations that are accessible from multiple approaches in consideration of the necessary space requirements and circulation to and around them. Based on that, there are some potential corridors that could have more dock and costumer kiosk  presence. 

Las Olas Blvd: This corridor has not been serviced to meet its fullest potential. There are at least 4 different locations that could potentially accommodate bike sharing stations. First, the area around Las Olas Blvd and NE 2nd Ave/NE 1st Ave; where riders could go to the Museum of Art of Fort Lauderdale, Bubier Park, FAU, Broward College, and on Sundays, Las Olas Farmers Market. Second, the area around Las Olas Blvd and NE 15th Ave. At this location riders could go to popular restaurants, a US Post Office, and two Hospitals. Third, the area around Idlewyld Park before Las Olas Bridge across the Intercoastal Waterway, for riders to access businesses in the area as well as this park to enjoy its great view towards the water. And last, the area of Las Olas and A1A to improve station density at the beach.

540 Building Station

Riverwalk: This area needs to be looked at again since developments planned or currently ongoing along New River are definitely increasing (or will increase) traffic along our city's popular linear park. Linking the Water Taxi system with the bike sharing program could allow tourists to stroll around town more effectively, so improving services along the New River path is a no-brainer. Based on that, there are 4 different locations that could potentially accommodate bike sharing stations. First, on the north side of the river bank, there is Riverfront. Remember its glorious days back in the 90's when this was the place to be? Well, renovations and changes are in the plans to bring this entertainment area back to life, so when that happens a station definitely should be there. Second, on the south side of the river bank, there are three possible locations. There's one location at the Pirate Republic Bar, but this area is up for major changes with the development of  Marina Lofts, so this one could wait. There's another location by the Dowtowner Saloon that soon will be welcoming new residents from the New River Yacht Club, a 26-story building from the Related Group with 249 new rental units and 4,000 SF of retail space. The last spot could be at Stranahan Landing, providing access to the bike sharing system to residents from Rio Vista.

Flagler Village: This is an area that has been ignored by the bike sharing system but I don't think it should be for any longer. Too many things are happening in this area that will generate possible locations. First, the Bus Depot. Why? Three words: All Aboard Florida! The intercity passenger train is planning a station there, and with it our very own commuter, Tri-Rail, and our city's downtown circulator, the Wave. Lots of riders will be eager to get on a bike for just a short trip to their final destination. This location also provides access to our Main Library and our City Hall. Second, FAT Village. If this area is meant to become the "Wynwood" of Fort Lauderdale, then a bike sharing station should be there; besides, this artsy scene goes with bike sharing. And third, Peter Feldman Park. Why? 825 new rental units and more than 25,000 SF of retail are currently under construction; and 1,059 new units and 4,500 SF are planned to be built within a 1/2 mile radius.  You definitely have the population density needed for at least a station.

DC Alexander Park Station

Further afield: Some other areas outside our downtown have some potential for bike sharing docks and kiosks but this will require to have the implementation of complete streets to make it safe for pedestrians and bikers to share the road with motorists. First, The Classic Gateway Theater. It's a city icon for more than 50 years, it deserves a station. Besides, 261 rental units and 2,300 SF of retail are currently under construction just a couple of blocks away. Second, Broward General Hospital. This area will be the southern terminus of the Wave; and besides the hospital facilities, riders could access the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum and could serve as a connection point for users coming from the station located at the Broward Convention Center located on SE 17th St.  It is also seeing some development action with the proposal of 314 units to be built within blocks, and the addition of popular bars and restaurants along Andrews Ave. And last, along US 1; however, this will require accommodating  bicycle lanes (non-existent as of right now) for riders to use.

So if we could draw a "heat map" for the bike sharing service for improvement in the city of Fort Lauderdale, the areas aforementioned  meet more or less the following criteria: their population density supports higher bike share demand by providing a pool of regular users; their high employment density provides greater access to potential bike share users; students attending FAU/Broward College are a likely market for bike sharing programs because of their lower rate of automobile ownership; the areas have a heavy retail/commercial use; they are in proximity to tourist attractions and recreational areas; and there is available mass transit for inter-connectivity.

Seebreeze & Las Olas Circle

Most existing U.S. systems include a range of 3.5 to 5 bike share stations per sq mile of service area; Fort Lauderdale has a range of 2.5 bike share stations per sq mile, way below the average. What seems to be the problem? While Broward B-cycle is a privately funded enterprise and is not part of Broward County transportation network, it was originally funded by a $311,000-grant provided by the Florida Department of Transportation to Broward County Transit. The rest came from sponsors such as Humana and Trek Bicycle as well user fees for its initial capital investment and operating cost. The company works closely with county planners and transportation officials to ensure mass transit inter-connectivity; however, it relies on private investment to fund expansions. Therefore, the system has to establish public-private partnerships to grow. The fact that this is a countywide program makes it more difficult to manage and see progress, which is the main different between the two options we currently have in South Florida. While Decobike has an average of 14 stations per sq mile in Miami Beach, Broward B-cycle has 27 for the whole county.

One of the main challenges is encouraging to form a new habit.

Las Olas Circle Station

The idea is that you are supposed to ditch your car for a really short commute; so as an incentive to ride the bikes, the system allows you to track calorie-burning information, how much money you save by ditching your car, and how much carbon riders don't emit by switching to this alternative mean of transportation. In addition, local business are encouraged to participate through marketing promotions tied to offering certain discounts for bike-share members. The program also organizes happy hours or any other social events to promote that sense of belonging in the community so users can understand how important it is to be involved in the planning process along with county planners  and transportation officials. If we, as an organized community, see a demand for this service, we need to work to establish that local public-private partnership required to provide all of us an alternative to traffic in our city streets. The choice is ours, either we have road rage while trying to find a parking spot at the beach; or we release stress feeling the cool ocean breeze and seeing coconut trees as we pass by. I think the answer is pretty obvious...