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Pasadena Metro Bike Share Program to End One Year Early
News Jul 12, 2018
The City of Pasadena wants out of the two-year contract. - Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
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The City of Pasadena wants out of the two-year contract. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
Mayor says pilot program was “hemorrhaging money”
By Terry Miller
In Pasadena, Metro and its contractor, Bicycle Transit Systems Inc., installed more than 31 stations throughout the city last summer. There was abundant excitement but also critics who said Pasadena’s love for cars was too much to make this a viable option.
The City of Pasadena concurs with those critics and has now decided the Metro Bike Share program is a flop and wants out of the two-year contract.
Mayor Terry Tornek told Pasadena Independent that Metro Bike Share program was a pilot program that was “hemorrhaging money.”
There were additional costs that the city decided were unacceptable, which was another reason the program is being scrapped. Additionally, Mayor Tornek said a regional sponsor was never landed to help defray the costs to the city.
With 700 bicycles deployed within the city limits, on any given day the racks remain partially full – well below the city’s initial revenue expectations.
Key bike sharing destinations that were easily accessible included Old Pasadena, Paseo Colorado, the Playhouse District, South Lake Avenue, Levitt Pavilion (Memorial Park), and Pasadena City College. A future key destination was going to be the Rose Bowl.
Frank Ching, Deputy Executive Officer of Countywide Planning and Development (Parking & Share Mobility Management) at LA Metro spoke with Pasadena Independent, at length, Monday afternoon about this decision.
Ching expressed disappointment at the change in plans and feels that 11 months isn’t really enough time to ‘adapt’ and get to know how residents will use the bike share program. The lack of ridership is “in the city’s perception,” Ching said, but he has no plans on punishing the city for the early contract termination.
Ironically, as this news hits the community, Metro is slated to slash the Bike Share fares in half. In other words, $1.75 per ride will be effective July 12.
Frank Ching also pointed out that as a “last mile connection,” the Metro Bike Share program could eventually connect with Gold Line stations throughout the area in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
The Metro Bike Share program is “not a joy ride bike rental, it is a last mile connection … ” Ching stated.
“The Metro Bike Share program offers a unique, shared economy means of transportation that is both economical and good for the environment by providing bikes as new mobility options that get people out of their cars for short trips around our beautiful city,” Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek said last year. “We welcome Metro Bike Share and look forward to seeing our residents and visitors take advantage of this program.”
Under Metro’s Bike Share business plan, Metro splits all costs with participating cities. Metro funds a maximum of 50 percent of the program’s capital costs, and a maximum of 35 percent of the operations and maintenance costs.
“Metro’s cost-sharing agreement with cities ensures our program yields the biggest benefits possible for taxpayers,” said Phillip A. Washington, Metro CEO. “Working together, we can cost-effectively create a balanced transportation system that offers new mobility options within many of our region’s top destinations.”
As of Monday, Ching said that Metro had not officially been notified of the program’s termination but has a “wonderful relationship” with the City of Pasadena and hopes to continue that liaison.
