DATE:
March 5, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement With Lyft Bikes And Scooters, LLC To Deploy Fifty-five Docked Electric-Assist Bicycles, And Three New Bikeshare Stations in Emeryville Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the above-referenced Resolution.
Background
In December 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution 15-150 authorizing the City Manager to enter into agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), four other cities, and the then-bike share operator, Bay Area Motivate LLC for regional docked bike share operations. This system launched as Ford Go-Bike in July 2017 in Emeryville, Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco and San Jose. The regional bike share system was purchased by Lyft, Inc. in 2018 and is now operated by Lyft as Bay Wheels.
Lyft’s Bay Wheels has an exclusive right to operate a docked bike share in the five cities. In 2019, the City Council approved a separate permit system allowing dockless shared mobility within the City; four operators currently operate dockless scooter and/or bike share systems in Emeryville.
All of the bicycles in Bay Wheels’ East Bay fleet are traditional pedal bikes. No electric-assist bikes (e-bikes) are currently deployed in the East Bay, although both San Francisco and San Jose previously negotiated separate agreements for e-bikes through Bay Wheels.
The MTC has agreed to fund Lyft an amount up to $13,940,000 for the purchase and deployment of 2,702 next-generation docked-only electric-assist bicycles and additional bike share stations throughout the regional system (Attachment A). San Francisco and San Jose began deployment of these next generation e-bikes in November 2023 as part of the MTC-funded program.
Discussion
Emeryville has eleven Bay Wheels bike share docking stations and a base number of 110 pedal bikes. A total of 17,505 trips were made on the Bay Wheels system in Emeryville from September 2022 to September 2023. Approval of the proposed Resolution will authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Lyft to allow deployment of fifty-five docked e-bikes and the installation of three new bikeshare stations in Emeryville at no cost to the City. In order to provide a mix of bicycle types that best reflects usage patterns, thirty nonelectric bikes in Emeryville’s fleet will be replaced with electric bikes, and the new docking stations will enable twenty-five more electric bikes to be deployed. The electric bikes require different docking stations which will result in a reduction of thirty nonelectric bikes, so the net number of new bikes would increase by twenty-five. The station siting will follow the planning process for a sidewalk cafe permit, including input from BPAC and the Transportation Committee.
Docked e-bikes are bicycles that use an electric motor to assist with pedaling. At the end of a Bay Wheels ride, both e-bike and traditional pedal bikes can only be locked into a “dock” at a bike share station, and not locked to bike racks or any other street furniture. Lyft agrees to use only Underwriters Laboratory (UL)-certified batteries in all electric bikes. UL certification helps minimize fire risk and includes a review of the electrical drive train system, battery, and charger.
Approval of the proposed Resolution will support the City’s Climate Action Plan goals of reducing the climate impact of transportation, which accounts for roughly half of Emeryville’s community greenhouse gas emission, to create vibrant neighborhoods, and to reduce the total vehicle miles traveled on local roads by 30%. It will also support the General Plan’s transportation goals (e.g.T-G-1 and T-G-2).
As part of the funding agreement between Lyft and MTC, Lyft will reduce the price for annual Bay Wheels memberships from $169 per year to $150 per year and reduce the per-minute surcharge for e-bikes from 20 cents to 15 cents. In addition, as part of the East Bay e-bike launch, the City of Emeryville will receive 100 free month-long memberships and $15 of credit to cover e-bike fees, for distribution within the community. Highly discounted “Bikeshare For All” Bay Wheels memberships are, and will continue to be, available for those that qualify for CalFresh food assistance or Pacific Gas & Electric’s California Alternate Rates for Energy program. Bikeshare For All memberships cost $5 for the first year and $5 per month after that. No annual commitment is required.
This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (existing facilities), 151 (projects consistent with General Plan and Zoning), and 15061(b)(3) (no significant effect on the environment).
Fiscal Impact
Emeryville’s docked bike share system is owned and operated by Lyft at no cost to the City.
Staff Communication with the Public
This proposal was discussed at the November 6, 2023, meeting of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee. If the contract and funding are approved, staff will begin public outreach to determine where the three new stations should be located.
Conclusion
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Lyft Bikes and Scooters LLC to deploy fifty-five docked electric-assist bicycles and three new bikeshare stations in the City as part of MTC’s regional bikeshare program.
PREPARED BY: Nancy Humphrey, Environmental Programs Supervisor Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Attachment A – Regional Funding Agreement
Attachment B – Agreement Between the City of Emeryville and Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC Draft Resolution
Bay Wheels Bike Share E-Bike Expansion Agreement
City Council Meeting | March 5, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM