Knowledgeable. Detailed. Enthusiast
Portland Bike Share is the hot topic for 2014. When will it start? How will it work? What’s the City’s investment? ELGL went straight to the sources for answers. Steve Hoyt-McBeth walked us through a detailed presentation on what is bike share, what isn’t bike share, how other cities are using bike share, and what’s the impact on TriMet. Not to mention, attendees had the opportunities to visit the historic Portland City Hall and enjoy the 4th floor conference room.
ELGL members can relive the presentation at PORTLAND BIKE SHARE PRESENTATION BY STEVE HOYT-MCBETH.
Background Check
Connect: LinkedIn and Twitter
Steve Hoyt-McBeth is a project manager in the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Active Transportation Division. He has worked on bike share at PBOT since 2008. Steve also manages PBOT’s employer and commuter Transportation Demand Management program, SmartTrips Business. He has 15 years experience working with local governments and neighborhoods in Oregon and California on land use, energy and transportation issues. Steve is a graduate of the University of Oregon.
What We Learned
Photo Album: A Picture Show from Forum
Pricing for bike share is one of the biggest learning curves for public.
58 percent of PDX citizens own a bike.
Bike share is complimentary to TriMet transit. Trimet doesn’t view bike share as a threat.
Highly educated and younger demographic are most likely to use in PDX.
Seattle Bike Share opening this summer. Bike to the Seahawks games next year.
In Portland, rain is like salt on your food.
PDX is in talks with Helmet Hub. A vending machine for helmets.
Build bike share where density exists and bikeway exists.
Why use bike share? Convenience and exercise are top 2 reasons.
Aiming for 2015 launch.
For bike share, short term users generate the most revenue but annual users generate the most trips
Most bike shares paid for by fed, local, grants. Sponsorships are also used. Short term riders generate more revenue
Bike share stations need to be both economically and to ensure equity.
Bike share can capture the people who use biking as a secondary transportation option
Bike share has exploded in the US we had two in 2008 and now there are about 40
Bike share is public transit not bike rental.
Word on the Street
Bradley Kilby, City of Sherwood, Planning Manager
Steve’s point that ridership increased as a result of bike share programs being in place by people who ride to work at least once a week was surprising. It makes sense that the bike share program would increase overall ridership out of convenience for people who do not regularly ride a bike. Because our weather is so volatile, it now makes sense that someone who would not want to ride their bike on a rainy morning would reconsider for one of our gorgeous sunny afternoons provided they were given the opportunity.
Michael Enloe, TriMet, Project Manager/Facilities Designer
It was interesting to hear several of the concerns of local bike shops and some battles that the bike share program will and have encountered. It was good to hear that public outreach had happened. Knowing what some battles or potential hick-ups are in the future makes it easier to deal with for successful implementation of the program. Looking forward to the possibilities of what bike share can bring to Portland metro region.
Emily Leuning, Oregon Microenterprise Network
Steve was a great presenter and shared wonderful info about Portland’s bike share program! I also appreciated that he was cognizant of the limited amount of time we had and made sure to leave time at the end of the hour for questions and discussion. Thanks Steve!
Josh Gregor, City of Portland
Steve Hoyt-McBeth’s enthusiasm and detailed presentation made it clear Portland is the right city for Bike Share. From the sounds of it, the City of Portland may be ready for implementation soon. Great work, Steve!
Ben Kittelson, Metro and PSU MPA
Steve’s presentation was so informative. He answered all the questions I had about Bike Shares and corrected my misconceptions. I feel like I understand how a bike share fits into a public transportation system and now I see it as a necessary addition. I’m so excited to see this program come to Portland and I can’t wait to try it out for myself!
Russell Bither-Terry, UNC Chapel Hill, Ph.D., Political Science
I really enjoyed learning about the history of bike sharing and how the idea has evolved all over the U.S. and the world. Steve has a valuable combination of seeing the big picture, such as when he says we need to think about bike sharing as another form of public transportation, and the bazillion details they need to get right to make the program successful.
Kent Wyatt, City of Tigard
By the end of the presentation, Steve had almost convinced me that bike share would even work for a family with small kids. I am sure my two young children wouldn’t mind hopping on my bike pegs and going for a ride. My other takeaways: bike shares will be a part of future transportation systems, starting a bike share involves an incredible number of moving pieces, and Steve has a contagious enthusiasm about his work.
Supplemental Reading
- ELGL AND OREGON APA TO HOST A FORUM ON THE PORTLAND BIKE SHARE PROGRAM
- Can a Canadian furniture tycoon speed up Portland’s bike share?
- Recap of PBOT Director Leah Treat’s first major speech
- Citi Bike’s Growing Pains, In 5 Charts
- NYC Bike Share Riders Are Overwhelmingly 30 Something Dudes
