Curbed Seattle - Seattle Bike Share 3.0Love where you live2019-07-17T18:08:46-07:00http://seattle.curbed.com/rss/stream/157041872019-07-17T18:08:46-07:002019-07-17T18:08:46-07:00Our guide to Seattle’s bike shares
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<figcaption>CL Shebley/Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>Which bikes (and companies) are in town—and how are they different?</p> <p id="LbWQOO">Two bike-share companies are operating in Seattle under <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">permit rules cemented late last year</a>: Lime and Uber-owned Jump, both with an all-electric (or soon to be all-electric) fleet. The bikes are growing in both popularity and quantity, and both companies have their own bikes, specs, and pricing. There are also some basic rules users must follow, although they’re not quite as complicated as the rules for operators.</p>
<p id="mTSz3u">We’ll update as we learn more information, including new companies, new specs, and new details. In the meantime, here’s what we know about the companies getting ready (or not) to unleash their bikes here—and about what bike-share users need to know.</p>
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<h1 id="iSmdGC">The rules</h1>
<p id="aBsNy5">Bike-share operators are <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">subject to a lot of rules</a>—including fleet size, safety notices, and attention to the right-of-way—which SDOT can enforce in a number of ways, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/after-reporting-problems-seattle-cuts-the-number-of-lime-and-jump-bikes-allowed-on-the-streets/">including fleet reduction</a>. As the end user, though, there are a ew highlights for how to navigate around town.</p>
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<li id="CweTWk">
<strong>Parking: </strong>Bikes need to be parked on a sidewalk “landscape/furniture” zone—where you frequently see bike racks, street trees, and sandwich boards—three feet wide or larger, or on an SDOT bicycle rack. You are never allowed to block ADA access.</li>
<li id="o3f2VF">
<strong>Helmets: </strong>It is <a href="https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/traffic-safety/bicycle-safety.aspx">the law</a> in King County to wear a helmet.</li>
<li id="UbhaLw">
<strong>Where to ride: </strong>Lime and Jump e-bikes are <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/4/17/17248128/washington-state-seattle-e-bike-law">“Class 1” electric bikes</a>, meaning they can be ridden on the street, sidewalk, and <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/13/17569668/e-bike-seattle-trail-laws-pilot">certain multi-use trails</a> in addition to bike lanes. When operating on sidewalks, however, bikes must yield to pedestrians. Seattle’s municipal code also <a href="http://seattle.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=7017380&GUID=148678BA-AAD3-4EAA-8663-7E75CC902893">dictates</a> that “bicycles must yield to pedestrians and shall operate at a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the existing conditions.”</li>
</ul>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="souygv">
<h1 id="l8jVuQ">Bike shares currently operating in Seattle</h1>
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<cite>Courtesy of Jump</cite>
<figcaption>The newest generation of Jump bikes has a retractable cable lock.</figcaption>
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<h3 id="md4vN6"><strong>Jump</strong></h3>
<p id="AeMVvW"><strong>App: </strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jump-bikes-bike-share/id1251322970?mt=8">iOS</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jumpmobility&hl=en">Google Play</a> (Although if you already <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/31/16954842/uber-bikeshare-dockless-ebike-jump-san-francisco">have the Uber app</a>, you’re covered)</p>
<p id="tmh8fi"><strong>When did Jump launch?</strong> Jump <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/11/19/18101394/jump-bikes-uber-bike-share-seattle">launched in Seattle on November 19. 2018</a>.</p>
<p id="8IJA7E"><strong>Bike specs:</strong> Unlike Lime, <em>all </em>of Jump’s bikes have been e-bikes from the beginning, although they’re still geared. A 250-watt motor boosts bikes to speeds up to 20 miles per hour, although Seattle bikes have been adjusted down to 15 to meet permit requirements. Front and rear lights automatically come on when it’s dark out. A skirt guard provides extra protection against rain, mud, and trapped clothing. The bikes weigh about 70 pounds, and have built-in locks for attaching them to bike racks—something that allows stopovers and could help tackle the parking problem.</p>
<p id="dMM4kN">The battery, located in the step-through frame, has about a 30-mile range. A user interface mounted on the back fender allows for users to unlock bikes without a smartphone, either with a user ID, an RFID chip (an ORCA card, for example, will work), or a QR code.</p>
<p id="OizjSa">While the initial generation placed in Seattle has U-locks for locking up the bikes, a new generation has retractable cable locks for more flexibility. Speaking of the locks: This allows for stopovers, so riders don’t have to end a trip to, for example, duck into a grocery store.</p>
<p id="PtnbnT"><strong>Cost: </strong>Jump bikes cost 25 cents a minute to ride<strong> </strong>(it used to be a base price is<strong> </strong>$1 to unlock and 10 cents a minute). Lower-income riders may qualify for the <a href="https://jump.com/cities/seattle/boost-plan/">Boost</a> program, which gives users 60 minutes of ride time every day for $5 a month. Users can pay cash by <a href="https://help.jumpbikes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360029398311-Does-Pay-Near-Me-Still-Work-with-The-New-JUMP-app-">purchasing an Uber gift card</a> and adding that to their Jump balance.</p>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHngXBpWwZ/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by einstein the havanese floof (@einstein_panda)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-06-25T04:17:14+00:00">Jun 24, 2019 at 9:17pm PDT</time></p>
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<h2 id="a09EIm">Lime</h2>
<p id="DtI2sE"><strong>App: </strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/limebike-your-ride-anytime/id1199780189?mt=8">iOS</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.limebike&hl=en">Google Play</a></p>
<p id="KD45HG"><strong>When did Lime launch?</strong> Lime, or Limebike at the time, was second to launch in Seattle—not too far behind Spin during the original pilot. It’s the first company to <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/2/12/17002536/seattle-electric-assist-bike-share-limebike">launch electric bikes</a>, though; those started rolling out the weekend of February 10, 2018. </p>
<p id="4Sjzbr">The company also operates cars—called <a href="https://www.li.me/lime-pod-car-sharing">Lime Pods</a>—in the city. Lime <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/12/limebike-is-also-getting-into-the-e-scooter-game/">may also bring electric scooters to Seattle</a> someday, if scoots are more your thing, although SDOT has no plans to allow them anytime soon. <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/9/25/17903396/lime-electric-scooter-share-tacoma">You can try them out in Tacoma</a> or Bothell. </p>
<p id="zNKt8P"><strong>Bike specs: </strong>Electric bikes, dubbed Lime-E, have a maximum speed of just under 15 miles per hour, well within the city’s limit. Those bikes’ batteries last for 62 miles, and can either be charged while on the bike—they take about four hours to get a full charge—or swapped out entirely. </p>
<p id="UdT6ok">The original eight-gear bikes are being phased out <a href="https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Lime-e-bike-Seattle-electric-assist-phase-out-13631689.php">in favor of going all-electric</a>.</p>
<p id="rmiq6b"><strong>Cost: </strong>Typically, Lime’s electric bikes cost $1 to unlock and 25 cents for every minute of ride time—although some users have reported seeing rates as high as 30 cents. Seattle Transit Blog asked Lime about the changes in pricing, and the response was vague; a spokesperson said that Lime has “adjusted... pricing in some markets to ensure that our service is reliable and that we can continue to offer excellent operational support where riders demand it most.”</p>
<p id="hFJXde">Users that don’t have credit cards can <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/8/18/16170530/limebike-cash-payment-no-smartphone">load up their accounts with cash</a> by <a href="https://www.li.me/blog/paynearme-lime-takes-industry-lead-on-transportation-equity">using Pay Near Me at CVS or 7-11</a>. Low-income riders—those that qualify for any local, state, or federal assistance program—<a href="https://www.li.me/community-impact">qualify for a discount</a>.</p>
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<h1 id="tpH3o4">Permitted bike shares</h1>
<h3 id="2nWlR0">Lyft Bikes</h3>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sgnlUYh2lK5j_uNpfeqTMG-NhRI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13456981/lyft_bike.jpg">
<cite>Via <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SDOT/BikeProgram/Lyft_Free_Floating_Bike_Share_Permit_Application.pdf" target="_blank">Lyft’s permit application with SDOT</a></cite>
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<p id="eSkdQu">Ride-hailing app and Uber competitor Lyft bought Motivate—the company that operated Seattle’s defunct bike-share program Pronto—and rebranded it as Lyft Bikes. We’re still waiting on more details, but SDOT’s website announces that they’re “coming soon” (and has since... November).</p>
<p id="42CGPr"><strong>App:</strong> TBD</p>
<p id="i6d54t"><strong>When will Lyft Bikes launch?</strong> We don’t know yet—although the permit is approved, so theoretically Lyft could put bikes out anytime. (But, like other companies, Lyft seems <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lyft.com%2Fscooters&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fseattle.curbed.com%2F2017%2F6%2F27%2F15856446%2Fseattle-bikeshare-companies-bikes-specs-rules" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pretty busy with scooters</a> at the moment, something Seattle has yet to allow.)</p>
<p id="1RgK48"><strong>Bike specs:</strong> The pedal assist bikes that Lyft described in its permit application are aluminum bikes weighing about 67 pounds, with integrated lights, a front basket, and full fenders with a skirt guard. Batteries have about a 25-mile range. An indicator ring tells users at a glance whether the bike is free, reserved, or out-of-service. Lyft Bikes have a lock-to system with an integrated U-lock.</p>
<p id="hbH3bh"><strong>Cost: </strong>Lyft applied for its permit with a price structure of $1 to unlock and 15 cents a minute, but both Lime and Uber have changed their structures since launch, so who knows.</p>
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<h2 id="jHEynz">Bike shares that have expressed interest</h2>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BV71aktg0wv/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by V_Bikes (@v_bikes)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-29T19:17:28+00:00">Jun 29, 2017 at 12:17pm PDT</time></p>
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<h3 id="87CwDz"><strong>Vbikes</strong></h3>
<p id="9vBBQ8">This Texas-based company already has bikeshare operations in the Lone Star State—but they’re still waiting for their permit to be approved in Seattle.</p>
<p id="oedN9V"><strong>App: </strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vbikes/id1226000409?mt=8">iOS</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vbikes.us.alpha&hl=en">Google Play</a></p>
<p id="LiSVcO"><strong>When will Vbikes launch?</strong> While company spokespeople confirm that Vbikes will be coming to Seattle, they tell us there’s not a firm date yet. It’s applied for the permit, but hasn’t been approved. It has some staff on the ground, and the system is in testing—opening the app will find a couple of bikes in Seattle, although you can’t ride them yet. Vbikes did not return a request for comment on the new bike-share rules.</p>
<p id="gvmzx2"><strong>Other cities that use them:</strong> Garland and Dallas, Texas.</p>
<p id="bVsodz"><strong>Bike specs: </strong>In Dallas, the bikes have a dynamo rear hub that powers a front light, rubber seats, <a href="http://www.vbikes.com/">“flat-free tires”</a> (which may mean foam rubber), a front basket, and a “splash guard”—like a tiny fender. We’ll update if we hear anything about specific specs for Seattle.</p>
<p id="1Vtfkz"><strong>Cost: </strong>In Dallas, Vbikes charges $1 per hour with a daily cap of $10. Previously, Vbike riders had to pay a $99 deposit, but they recently axed that requirement.</p>
<h1 id="NQOuHh">Mobike</h1>
<p id="ppeq7f">The company is hiring around these parts—but has no plans for a launch. Yet.</p>
<p id="70ioD8"><strong>When is Mobike launching? </strong>A Mobike spokesperson told us back in June that the company has “no immediate plans for Seattle.” We could not reach Mobike for comment after the new bike-share rule launch.</p>
<p id="cn5KXP"><strong>Bike specs: </strong>It <a href="http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Blog-Around_Town/39935/Mobike-launch-lighter-and-cheaper-Mobike-Lite.html">depends on the bike</a>.</p>
<p id="OaWvYr"><strong>Cost: </strong>In Washington, D.C., Mobikes <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/9/20/16340288/bike-share-dockless-spin-limebike-mobike">cost $1 per every half hour</a>.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="4IpfZ7">
<h1 id="3kxiHe">Bike shares not launching in Seattle—and bike shares that have left</h1>
<h2 id="yRICPN">Spin</h2>
<p id="yke1HB">Spin was the <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/7/17/15980792/spin-orange-bike-share-launch">first dockless bike share to launch</a> in Seattle on July 17, 2017, but <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/16/17703664/spin-bike-share-leaving-seattle">noting high fees and a lack of provisions for electric scooters</a>, the company decided to not renew its permit. It could be back if scooters are eventually allowed in the city.</p>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXQu5_olF52/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by ofo US (@ofobicycle)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-01T18:36:02+00:00">Aug 1, 2017 at 11:36am PDT</time></p>
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<h2 id="ejpT3b">Ofo</h2>
<p id="3M0oNu">Ofo launched its yellow bikes in Seattle in mid-August 2017—making it the third and final to participate in the pilot—but it was first to announce its departure. Ofo <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/31/17636964/seattle-bike-share-operators-rules">cited high fees</a> as its reason for leaving Seattle, although the announcement came during a national scaling-back.</p>
<h1 id="PO7gL2">Bluegogo</h1>
<p id="bfkwrn">At one point, Bluegogo was poised to be the only company running dockless bike shares in both Seattle and Beijing (an honor later taken by Ofo). A source told us soon after the pilot started that Bluegogo is “taking a step back to reassess” their rollout in the States.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_b7astbp1aJG9Hz5QyWBVycRdKE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8757139/Park___New_Bike.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of Koloni Share</cite>
</figure>
<h2 id="r4fA97">Koloni Share</h2>
<p id="layjST">Koloni is somewhere in between a stationed and stationless bike share. Instead of having a physical dock or a leave-them-anywhere policy, Koloni uses “geofenced hubs.” And while co-founder Brian Dewey initially expressed interest in a Seattle launch, the new bike-share rules, he said, take the city off the table.</p>
<p id="dGgSbm"><em>Editor’s note: This article was originally published on June 27, 2017. It has been updated multiple times with the most recent information.</em></p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/6/27/15856446/seattle-bikeshare-companies-bikes-specs-rulesSarah Anne Lloyd2018-11-19T00:01:01-08:002018-11-19T00:01:01-08:00Jump bikes are launching in Seattle on Monday
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pH-mNaU76lcT5rZbR_3albZ6t_U=/374x0:6347x4480/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62352951/0C4A6024.1542569510.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jump bikes staged for their Seattle debut. | Courtesy of Jump</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After months of permit process, a second bike-share outfit is rolling out</p> <p id="3tCNNJ">Seattle announced it’s <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">official, permanent rules for private bike-share operations</a> over the summer, and since then, we’ve been in a state of limbo. Spin and Ofo, choosing not to apply for a long-term permit, pulled out of the city at the end of August—leaving just Lime kicking around until more permits could be approved.</p>
<p id="XDDNNV">Today, Lime finally gets some competition: Jump, an all-electric fleet <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uber.com%2Fnewsroom%2Fwelcomejump%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fseattle.curbed.com%2F2018%2F11%2F19%2F18101394%2Fjump-bikes-uber-bike-share-seattle" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">owned by Uber</a>, had its permit approved by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) on Friday, and will start placing bikes around Seattle on 6 a.m. Monday morning. The initial fleet size will be 300, but Jump plans to increase incrementally over the coming weeks and months, eventually reaching 5,000 around March, according to its <a href="https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SDOT/BikeProgram/JUMP_Seattle_Final.pdf">application packet</a>.</p>
<p id="TJcpFS">“Seattle has been a leader in dockless bike share, so we’re thrilled to bring our Jump electric bikes as the first step towards offering Uber customers a multi-modal transportation platform in this great Northwest city,” said Jump spokesperson Nelle Pierson in a statement. “Bike sharing is an environmentally friendly, affordable way to get around, and a mobility option we believe should be a permanent cornerstone of a city’s transportation system.”</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="7oN2AH"><div data-anthem-component="aside:1965085"></div></div></div>
<p id="DmJ6MB">Jump’s e-bikes are $1 to unlock and 10 cents per minute to ride. This is the same price structure as Lime-E bikes <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/2/12/17002536/seattle-electric-assist-bike-share-limebike">upon their debut</a>, although prices have since gone up to 15 cents a minute. Low-income riders qualify for the Boost plan, which costs $5 a month—about the cost for 40 minutes of ride time under the regular pricing structure—for 60 minutes of ride time every day (and 7 cents a minute after). As part of the launch, all users can get up to five free trips up to 30 minutes long every day through December 12.</p>
<p id="fM4zgT">The bright red, 70-pound, geared, pedal-assist bicycles have a front basket, a grip bell, integrated front and rear lights, and a solar panel that powers the rear interface. The aluminum frame has full-coverage fenders with a skirt guard, and rollerbrakes—a type of drum brake—are <a href="https://www.sheldonbrown.com/rollerbrakes.html">generally regarded</a> as suitable for steep hills and unpredictable weather. The bikes coming to Seattle are Jump’s newest generation, with swappable batteries and phone holders between the handlebars.</p>
<p id="ayqpck">Jump grew from Social Bicycles (Sobi), which currently runs semi-docked bike shares in 40 markets, including Portland (Biketown), Phoenix (Grid), Long Beach, and Pullman (Coug Bikes). Those who have used Sobi in the past are familiar with the basic unlocking process: Enter an account number and PIN on the interface. While the account and PIN system means bikes can be unlocked without using a smartphone, users can also reserve and unlock bikes using the Uber or Jump app.</p>
<p id="NjMT6k">With Jump bikes, there’s another option for unlocking: registering any radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip and tapping. This means anyone with an ORCA card can use that to unlock a bike.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CULUvYiIa9WZ7erGMDKZHnTS6x0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13454360/0C4A5959__1_.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of Jump</cite>
<figcaption>A Seattle warehouse full of Jump bikes.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="9e4YZo">Unlike Limebikes, Jump bikes have a system with built-in locks, which will eventually require locking to a rack or other infrastructure, although the lock-to-object requirement doesn’t start until March 15, 2019. A $25 fee is applied if a bike is locked improperly. This helps keep bikes out of the right-of-way and from falling over. It also allows for stopovers—e.g., if you ride a Jump bike to a grocery store, you can park it and come back instead of finding a whole new bike to haul your groceries back home. In a <a href="https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SDOT/BikeProgram/application_scores.pdf">city ranking of bike-share permits</a>, Jump scored a 7.3—the second-highest score given to part of any application—for parking and fleet management.</p>
<p id="QMZCoJ">The initial service area goes north to 65th and south to McClellan, although Jump plans to expand as the fleet expands. Users will get a warning when riding a bike outside the service area, and ending a trip outside the service area incurs a $25 fee.</p>
<p id="CZaTHU">One tricky part of bike-share in Seattle is a King County law requiring all cyclists to wear a helmet—something difficult to navigate with a shared system. Through December 18, Jump will be handing out helmets at 1191 Second Avenue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesdays and Sundays.</p>
<p id="6q5jaZ">Jump also participates with helmet manufacturers to provide discounts to customers: a $25 discount with Thousand and a 50 percent discount with Westridge. Boost-eligible customers get free helmets. (There will also be the standard disclosures, like in-app safety notices, warnings on the bikes.) </p>
<p id="bJp9nB">Another challenge: Jump is launching its bikes in November, which can mean chaotic, unpredictable weather in Seattle. Pronto, Seattle’s ill-fated docked system, <a href="https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2014/10/13/pronto-cycle-share-launches-what-you-need-to-know-updates/">kicked off in October 2014</a>—and while being born into a rainy season was the least of Pronto’s problems, it didn’t exactly set the stage for success (or high ridership).</p>
<p id="QpW4PF">“We think people will discover riding the bikes is a great experience, no matter the time of year,” said Uber spokesperson Nathan Hambly when asked about the timing. “They’re equipped with fenders and automatic lights. When riding in inclement conditions, though, we do suggest people take that into account by riding slower, taking wider turns and braking earlier.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LMusaWZJbAUdrpIm3UP0MYk8PYw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13454363/0C4A6066.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of Jump</cite>
<figcaption>A Jump bike is prepared for launch.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="oEamks">This leaves just one more service left to launch: Lyft Bikes, a rebranding of prolific bike-share operator Motivate. Motivate has historically run docked bike-share programs—like Seattle’s ill-fated Pronto system and New York’s Citibike—but has been breaking into dockless, too. In Seattle, Lyft plans to introduce bikes at $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute, according to its permit application.</p>
<p id="I2bWTd">In response to a request for comment, a Lyft spokesperson stayed cagey on the details: “We’re excited about the possibility of bringing more mobility options to Seattleites to give them another affordable and convenient way to get around.” </p>
<p id="DFNuoS">Lyft’s pedal-assist bikes, according to its permit application, are also pedal-assist electric bikes that use a lock-to system, with a similar overall design and weight to Jump bikes. (Both are heavier than Lime’s e-bikes.) Lyft scored highest in the city’s permit evaluation.</p>
<p id="clpiOy">While Lime had to re-apply for its permit—and, despite scoring highest in experience, scored lowest overall for its application—an SDOT spokesperson told us that its permit is not in jeopardy.</p>
<p id="134gAx"><em>This article has been updated to correct the rental rate for Jump bikes, which was inconsistent in its original version, and to clarify that lock-to rules don’t apply until March.</em></p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/11/19/18101394/jump-bikes-uber-bike-share-seattleSarah Anne Lloyd2018-10-19T15:29:47-07:002018-10-19T15:29:47-07:00Scooter-share companies vie for a place in Seattle
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SneItWfVFougQCY1nbKgtDhi5lo=/125x0:2125x1500/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61841911/Bird_Nest.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bird scooters. | Courtesy of Bird</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Bird and Lime have both launched public petitions</p> <p id="Ztn3Sd">Free-floating, dockless bike shares <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/6/27/15856446/seattle-bikeshare-companies-bikes-specs-launch">have been in Seattle for well over a year now</a>, but while Seattle was <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">one of the first cities to implement rules</a> governing free-floating bike shares, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has so far opted to keep its distance from the bikes’ cousins, the free-floating electric scooter.</p>
<p id="6CA6DY">Shunning the scooter was one factor in Spin <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/16/17703664/spin-bike-share-leaving-seattle">packing up its orange bikes and leaving town</a>. Lime, meanwhile, is the only bike-share provider left from the original pilot to stick around—and while the company has been largely cordial with the city, it’s been itching to launch scooters of its own. Bird, a company that deals exclusively in scooters, has also been edging in on the city waiting for the green light.</p>
<p id="aeK58z">Both companies—independently from one another, a Bird spokesperson said—have launched public petitions to try to build support around allowing scooters on Seattle streets. <a href="https://p2a.co/rsqgpte">Lime’s petition</a> has just under 3,500 signatures, according to the company. Bird has not disclosed participation in <a href="https://p2a.co/UXIJTsh">its petition</a>.</p>
<p id="ztnlyW">“People are excited about them in Seattle,” Lime general manager Isaac Gross told Curbed Seattle earlier this month. “Especially when we’re about to go through Viadoom.”</p>
<p id="R3N2cD">“Viadoom” refers to a three-week period when the downtown stretch of busy highway State Route 99 <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/9/17/17871686/alaskan-way-viaduct-closure-date">completely closes</a> while crews switch road connections from the existing viaduct to a new tunnel. The closure starts on January 11.</p>
<p id="wJDdgT">While Lime plans to cap scooter speeds at 15 miles per hour like the e-bikes currently deployed in the city, Gross said that a scooter can go “three times as fast as a car during rush hour in Seattle—maybe 15 times.”</p>
<p id="ddkufn">Lime has also been hosting pop-ups around the city, giving people a chance to try the scooters. A spokesperson said that 125 people showed up to try them out at <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/venue/westlake-park">Westlake Park</a> last week. Meanwhile, Bird has <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/bird-enlists-seattle-ambassadors-test-electric-scooters-around-town/">recruited a collection of scooter “ambassadors”</a> to test-ride the vehicles and build hype.</p>
<p id="Fcrhmm">SDOT has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the future of scooters in Seattle, but there’s a hint it’s eventually, someday possible: A city document filed in accordance with Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) nods at <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/separ/Main/SEPA/Record.aspx?SEPANumber=201805342">“other micro-mobility vehicles”</a> besides bikes.</p>
<p id="JqOP4j">In the past, SDOT <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/2/16/17021950/limebike-electric-scooter-share-seattle">has told us that scooters are intriguing and not impossible</a>, but they’d require their own permitting system.</p>
<p id="zLG75n">Meanwhile to the south, Tacoma has <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/9/25/17903396/lime-electric-scooter-share-tacoma">started to dabble in scooter-share</a>, starting with Lime scooters and folding in Bird scooters last week as part of a two-month pilot.</p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/10/19/17952416/lime-bird-scooter-share-seattleSarah Anne Lloyd2018-08-24T15:00:13-07:002018-08-24T15:00:13-07:00Lime, Uber, and Lyft all vying for Seattle bike-share permits
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7FRGnB8AxAsnBlllbwRmeyfjpUw=/316x0:5569x3940/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61013717/JUMP_Bikes_010.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Courtesy of Jump</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With applications closed, there are three potential bike-share providers—including two we’ve seen before (kind of)</p> <p id="26N6PB">The application window to operate a bike-share program in Seattle <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">under new rules</a> (<a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/30/17632716/seattle-bike-share-permanent-rules">and fees</a>) has <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/uber-lyft-and-lime-want-to-run-bike-shares-in-seattle/">closed</a>, and three companies have thrown their itty-bitty cycling caps into the ring. Lime is the only one with bikes currently on the street. Uber has also applied, with its all-electric fleet of Jump bikes, which <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/9/17213994/uber-acquires-dockless-bike-share-jump">Uber acquired back in April</a>. And although we’re still waiting on some details for Lyft, the company acquired Motivate, the company that operated Seattle’s now-defunct Pronto bike-share program, <a href="https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-to-acquire-us-bikeshare-leader">earlier this summer</a>.</p>
<p id="FFFTsy">This doesn’t necessarily mean that all three will operate in Seattle. First, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has to review applications and decide which ones are allowed to set up shop. The permitting structure allows for a maximum of four companies to operate within the city, so there’s room for all three. But it’s a question of whether the applicants meet—or how strongly the city applies—the permit standards, which require plans for improving parking compliance and increasing ridership equity.</p>
<p id="ZEPnW8">For potential permittees, said SDOT bike-share program manager Joel Miller back in July, “we’re asking for specific plans from the companies for things like, how do you plan to get your users to park better? How do you ensure that the right-of-way, and especially ADA access, remains clear? We’ll be asking for plans like, how are you educating your users?... How are you ensuring your users are riding safely?”</p>
<p id="iWSe2O">The submitted plans, said Miller at the time, will count for a lot.</p>
<p id="BKKnD9">After approval, companies will have to pay fees totaling $50 per year for each new bike on the street, prorated by month—or $250,000 once a company reaches the maximum of 5,000 bikes on the street. The City Council granted SDOT authority to lower fees if the cost of administration ends up being less.</p>
<p id="cCu46P">The two non-Lime bike-share operators that participated during the city’s initial pilot program, <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/16/17703664/spin-bike-share-leaving-seattle">Spin</a> and <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/14/17690834/ofo-seattle-departure-date-bikes">Ofo</a>, both cited high fees as a reason for leaving, although Ofo’s departure comes during a withdrawal from multiple United States markets and Spin’s during a pivot to scooters.</p>
<p id="yiEIux">While Uber initially balked at the permitting prices, it ultimately wasn’t a deterrent.</p>
<p id="6XcBIn">“We shared some concerns about the fee level with the city,” said Nathan Hambly, Uber’s Seattle spokesperson, speaking with us on Thursday, adding that it’s important that bike operators can create a “sustainable business.”</p>
<p id="JPl7gk">Despite that,” continued Hambly, “we’re still very enthusiastic to roll the bikes out here should we be awarded a permit.”</p>
<p id="tiVNU4">Jump’s bikes are currently pedal-assisted to up to 20 miles per hour, although Hambly said it’s an easy change to cap the assist at 15 to meet permit regulations. The battery, located in the step-through frame, has a 30 to 40 mile range. A user interface mounted on the back fender allows for users to unlock bikes without a smartphone, either with a user ID or RFID chip (an ORCA card, for example, will work).</p>
<p id="fToJpK">While a Lyft spokesperson confirmed the permit application, we’re still waiting on more details. Motivate, which will be rebranded as Lyft Bikes, has historically run docked bike-share programs—not just Seattle’s Pronto, but New York’s Citibike, Portland’s Biketown, San Francisco’s Gobike, and others—although dockless is the wave of the future, so it’s too early to tell what those bikes are going to be like.</p>
<p id="q9X0lp">Miller told us earlier this month that SDOT “will have new permits in place by the beginning of September,” but has not yet returned an inquiry about the submitted permit applications.</p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/24/17779100/seattle-bike-share-jump-motivate-limeSarah Anne Lloyd2018-08-16T11:20:13-07:002018-08-16T11:20:13-07:00Spin bike share announces departure from Seattle
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cnX0olSj58NjyXsmvf8zsHrDJ2g=/304x0:5168x3648/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60868723/bike_1__1_.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Courtesy of Spin</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Like Ofo, Spin noted high permit costs as a reason for leaving</p> <p id="W0MFrz">And then there was Lime: Spin, the <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/7/17/15980792/spin-orange-bike-share-launch">first company to launch shared bikes in Seattle</a>, has confirmed to Curbed Seattle that it will not be applying for a bike-share permit <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">under new rules from the Seattle Department of Transportation</a>. Like with Ofo, which also recently announced its bikes wouldn’t be returning, a Spin spokesperson cited high permit fees as a deciding factor.</p>
<p id="NfHq7b">While this means a departure from Seattle for now, a Spin spokesperson noted that the company is focusing more fully on <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/2/16/17021950/limebike-electric-scooter-share-seattle">electric scooters</a>—and if the city ever allows those, it might come back. “[T]hese vehicles generate more than 20 times the consumer demand than that of bikes,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We have since made the decision to focus on bringing scooters, and other forms of pedal-less electric mobility, to our markets around the country.”</p>
<p id="xQ1RPU">“As SDOT formulated the new permit rules, we had hoped the requirements would allow scooters,” the statement continued. “We also expressed our concerns about the proposed requirement that all operators pay a flat fee of $250,000.” </p>
<p id="WqcA1O">The fee, which is based on a 5,000 fleet size, breaks down to about $50 per bike. The flat fee <a href="https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3552930&GUID=18600885-622D-4B32-99E8-46DEC21F5595&Options=Advanced&Search=&FullText=1">only applies</a> if four operators are operating simultaneously—otherwise, SDOT just charges that per-bike amount.</p>
<p id="HeXYe3">“Spin has been proud to serve Seattle, our first city, since July 2017,” said the spokesperson. We have been particularly grateful to the city for welcoming us to the community and for pioneering the dockless mobility trend with us in the United States.” </p>
<p id="GWw6yY">A spokesperson didn’t immediately return a request for comment on a specific departure date, although permits expire in September—so likely later this month. (We’re getting some anecdotal reports of fewer Spin bikes on the street already.)</p>
<p id="0kwfwi">With two companies leaving the city, that leaves only one company, Lime, that has <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/31/17636964/seattle-bike-share-operators-rules">confirmed</a> it’s going for the new permit. Uber-owned electric bike-share operation Jump has already applied for a permit, according to spokesperson Nathan Hambley.</p>
<p id="Byr0Z1">“If Jump is granted a permit, we will work hard to bring bikes to Seattle as quickly as possible, likely starting in the fall,” said Hambley.</p>
<p id="5oN8JV"><em>This story has been updated with more information about Jump and a statement from Uber.</em></p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/16/17703664/spin-bike-share-leaving-seattleSarah Anne Lloyd2018-08-14T16:36:45-07:002018-08-14T16:36:45-07:00Ofo will officially leave Seattle August 31
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<p>The bike-share company first announced its departure in July</p> <p id="2Mc8x5">After the <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/30/17632716/seattle-bike-share-permanent-rules">passage</a> of new bike-share fees—allowing a <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">brand-new set bike-share rules</a> to take effect—reactions from existing bike-share operators was mixed. Spin said it needed more time, Lime enthusiastically announced it’d be sticking around, and Ofo <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/31/17636964/seattle-bike-share-operators-rules">announced</a> it’d be packing up its yellow bikes and leaving. Now, there’s an official end date for Ofo service: August 31.</p>
<p id="EgP8Ft">When Ofo first announced its departure, the company attributed the decision to the new fee structure, which adds up to $250,000 for a fleet 5,000 bicycles (or $50 per bike). Fees go toward administering the bike-share permit, addressing equity issues, and developing parking solutions for the bicycles.</p>
<p id=":3sw">“We appreciate the efforts of City Council and SDOT in crafting new requirements for dockless bike share in <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/building/city-seattle">Seattle</a>,” said Lina Feng, Seattle general manager for Ofo Seattle, in a statement at the time. “The exorbitant fees that accompany these new regulations—the highest in the country—make it impossible for Ofo to operate and effectively serve our riders, and as a result, we will not be seeking a permit to continue operating in Seattle. We’re incredibly disappointed to be leaving the first U.S. city to welcome Ofo and thank the city for its partnership and support this last year.”</p>
<p id="HIPeXi">Ofo announced its exit date in an email sent to users (reported by <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/ofo-confirms-seattle-departure-date-promises-refunds-riders/">Geekwire</a>), noting that it’d be “partnering with various nonprofit organizations” to figure out a use for the operational bikes. The non-operational bikes will be recycled (like the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/08/07/636347531/hundreds-of-bikes-dumped-at-dallas-recycling-center-as-ofo-leaves-market">massive piles of bikes</a> left at a Dallas recycling center in a now-viral photo). Remaining balances in Ofo accounts will be refunded within 45 days.</p>
<p id="wHhFWU">An Ofo spokesperson told Curbed Seattle that the company is still “exploring donation partners.”</p>
<p id="BPSdVc">The new bike-share permitting system, which includes new fees and higher standards for operators, should be in place this September.</p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/8/14/17690834/ofo-seattle-departure-date-bikesSarah Anne Lloyd2018-07-31T14:37:58-07:002018-07-31T14:37:58-07:00Under new bike-share permit rules, Lime wants to stick around—but Ofo’s out
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<p>Jump and Spin are still mulling it over</p> <p id="XUsDns">Yesterday, the Seattle City Council <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/30/17632716/seattle-bike-share-permanent-rules">passed an ordinance</a> allowing the city’s more permanent regulations for bike-share operators to move forward. Under the <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">new permit rules built by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)</a>, all current bike-share operators will need to reapply—making it unclear what our bike-share landscape could look like in a few months. We asked</p>
<p id="eM2G7S">Currently, Lime, Ofo, and Spin are the only ones with city contracts, which are grandfathered in until the more permanent system can go into effect. Out of those, we know at least one isn’t sticking it out in Seattle: Ofo cited an increase in permitting fees as a reason for leaving.</p>
<p id=":3sw">“We appreciate the efforts of City Council and SDOT in crafting new requirements for dockless bike share in Seattle,” said Lina Feng, Seattle general manager for Ofo Seattle. “The exorbitant fees that accompany these new regulations—the highest in the country—make it impossible for Ofo to operate and effectively serve our riders, and as a result, we will not be seeking a permit to continue operating in Seattle. We’re incredibly disappointed to be leaving the first U.S. city to welcome Ofo and thank the city for its partnership and support this last year.”</p>
<p id="VEPvF4">Under the new rules, fees would be $50 per bike per year—$30 for program administration and $20 to support bike parking programs—or $250,000 for a fleet of 5,000 bikes, prorated by month. Operator fees were $15 per bike, no matter the duration, during the pilot. The idea is that private bike share operates at little, if any, cost to the city.</p>
<p id="ZyVDuo">Ofo still carries a permit from the pilot program. After that permit is expired, the bikes will be phased out.</p>
<p id="w3fXIz">Meanwhile, as Ofo announced its departure, Lime is diving headfirst into the new permitting process—although there are no guarantees the green bikes will get a spot. The company announced its intention to continue operating both pedal bikes and Lime-E electric bikes almost immediately after the vote.</p>
<p id="DdoV9R">“Seattleites embraced Lime the moment we launched,” said Gabriel Scheer, director of strategic development at Lime, in a statement. “Since then, more than a third of city residents have had rides on our bicycles. We’ll absolutely be applying for bikeshare permits when they become available next month, and plan to continue to serve this city and beyond with viable, accessible and affordable mobility options.”</p>
<p id="5KhOA7">Lime is also preparing to launch e-bikes in Bellevue.</p>
<p id="jj8wD6">Meanwhile, Seattle’s third bike-share operator, Spin, is taking a more cautious stance. A spokesperson declined to comment on the new bike-share rules, saying the company is still reviewing the ordinance.</p>
<p id="E7CZBn">But the three existing operators <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/6/27/15856446/seattle-bikeshare-companies-bikes-specs-launch">aren’t the only ones to express interest</a> in jumping into Seattle’s bike-sharing landscape. We reached out to previous companies we’ve discussed a Seattle launch with—Texas-based Vbikes, Uber-owned Jump, Iowa based Koloni, and (relatively) longstanding Chinese company Mobike—and heard back from Jump and Koloni. (The rest had not commented as of publication, but we’ll update if/when they do.)</p>
<p id="jnqteL">As an e-bike-only company, Jump has been watching regional laws governing the bikes closely. One issue that might arise: Although a <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/4/17/17248128/washington-state-seattle-e-bike-law">new state framework</a> draws a line between e-bikes that go over or under 20 miles per hour, the permitting rules cut bikes off at 15.</p>
<p id="T4TBJd">“We’ve encouraged the city to use the Class 1 standard under [Washington] state law for pedal-assist bikes, which is in line with national standards,” said Uber spokesperson Nathan Hambley in an emailed statement. “We believe the final permit regulations should ensure different kinds of bikes are included in the system so that it’s easier to replace car trips with bike trips. For trips less than one mile in flat areas, pedal bikes may be attractive, but for commuters or those traveling longer distances or on hilly routes, adequately-powered e-bikes make more sense.”</p>
<p id="ZevDeZ">Overall, Jump’s position, or lack of one, is similar to Spin’s: We’ll have to wait and see.</p>
<p id="QAMDIk">“We’re hopeful we can bring Jump bikes to Seattle,” said Hambley, “but we’re still waiting to review the final permit regulations.” </p>
<p id="JgonH0">Koloni, like Ofo, balked at the permitting price.</p>
<p id="0Qbq17">“At $250,000 annually? Absolutely not,” said Koloni co-founder Brian Dewey over email. “It is interesting that only a few years ago these cities were highly subsidizing these programs. Now they hope to capture a profit. I know they are talking about using this revenue to create bike parking and infrastructure. But why tax the provider for these improvements? These improvements should go back to city urban and sustainable design or lack of sustainable design.”</p>
<p id="l7v8YZ">“It’s ridiculous and we will see cities subsidize bike share programs again in the next few years,” added Dewey. “It will come full circle.”</p>
<p id="WUSvoK"><em>This article has been updated with a comment from Koloni and more information about Ofo.</em></p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/31/17636964/seattle-bike-share-operators-rulesSarah Anne Lloyd2018-07-30T16:56:17-07:002018-07-30T16:56:17-07:00Seattle will implement long-term rules for private bike shares
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<p>With the City Council’s rubber stamp on the fee schedule, a permanent program is all set to go</p> <p id="z1Sfh3">Monday, the City Council approved new fees for bike-share operators in Seattle, meaning that the city’s new rules governing the free-floating bicycles will pop into effect soon.</p>
<p id="BdNvgS">Bikes currently on the streets of Seattle have been operating under <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/6/30/15897458/private-bike-share-licensing-rules-seattle">rules from a temporary pilot program</a> put together by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), which tested the waters and gathered data on usage. </p>
<p id="5qHKqm">Earlier this month, SDOT put together <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17565246/seattle-bike-share-rules-regulations">rules for a new program</a>, including a fee structure that needed to be approved. The City Council largely approved the changes—making some modifications to include bikes that are more accessible to people with disabilities, like adaptive cycles and hand trikes. As a condition of the fee approval, the council requested written, quarterly reports through the end of 2019 on installing bike parking, and a written plan for “sidewalk management and safety, addressing the increasing use of fast-moving electric-motor devices on sidewalks” by the end of this year.</p>
<p id="Xvcrlj">With fees in place, new rules can take effect, although we’re still waiting to hear back from SDOT about a more definite timeline.</p>
<p id="Jg3piN">And because the pilot was the first set of rules to govern how private bike shares operate within cities, the permanent legislation has <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/as-bike-shares-spread-coast-to-coast-cities-look-to-seattle-for-clues-on-how-to-regulate-the-industry/">national implications</a>.</p>
<p id="r2hMAO">While the typical user may notice some changes under the pilot, they won’t be governed by any new laws. But the permit for operators will change, with an eye for, as SDOT bike-share program manager Joel Miller put it speaking with Curbed Seattle in mid-July, “equity, parking, and rider behavior.”</p>
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<p id="vQsLoH">For the permanent program, SDOT is sticking with the same basic model as the pilot: annual permits that need to be renewed each year. With the new program coming into effect soon, they will all have to rebid to keep their spot on city streets—although Ofo <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/chinese-bikeshare-company-ofo-shutting-seattle-amid-widespread-us-layoffs/">dropping out of the Seattle</a> means perhaps less competition.</p>
<p id="wE4ESF">While the goal is to have a program that’s adjustable, SDOT wants to start the new program with a cap of four operators and 20,000 bikes on the street (Seattle had around 10,000 at the end of the pilot period). While each permit would allow an operator 5,000 bikes, an operator could be granted up to an extra 1,000 as incentive for adaptive cycles. (Meanwhile, the city is exploring its own options for rolling out adaptive cycles.)</p>
<p id="ujowjC">Companies would have to pay fees totaling $50 per year for each new bike on the street, prorated by month and capping at $250,000 once a company reaches 5,000 bikes on the street. The City Council granted SDOT authority to lower fees if the cost of administration ends up being less.</p>
<p id="ZEPnW8">For potential permittees, said Miller earlier this month, “we’re asking for specific plans from the companies for things like, how do you plan to get your users to park better? How do you ensure that the right-of-way, and especially ADA access, remains clear? We’ll be asking for plans like, how are you educating your users?... How are you ensuring your users are riding safely?”</p>
<p id="iWSe2O">A demonstrated ability to meet scale and operate safely matters, said Miller, but the submitted plans will count for a lot.</p>
<p id="rbw1qn">While the City Council has requested updates on the bike-share parking situation—SDOT acknowledges that one of the major problems during the pilot was proper parking of the bikes—the new rules will also attempt to hold operators accountable for bad user behavior, evaluated by a third-party audit. Failure to comply could result in penalties like fleet reductions.</p>
<p id="vjjmmz">Miller told us that he hopes this will encourage creative solutions to keep the bikes in line, like “gamification, crowdsourcing, staffing, or devices on the bikes.”</p>
<p id="A8uvR7">SDOT will also be expanding its efforts to clarify where bikes can be parked—and will create new spaces outside the public right-of-way, including expanding on a pilot program that <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17140640/seattle-bike-share-parking-ballard">added designated bike-share parking</a> to some sidewalks in Ballard and keeping bike-share bikes in mind while installing end-of-block bike corrals.</p>
<p id="XJH9dH">Other than stricter maintenance standards that come along with the third-party audits, equipment requirements won’t be changing from the initial pilot. Of particular interest with <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/4/17/17248128/washington-state-seattle-e-bike-law">new rules governing e-bikes statewide</a>: The speed limit on e-bikes won’t be increasing above the current 15. Since e-bikes will stay under 20, that would make them eligible for riding on trails in an upcoming pilot program to allow slower e-bikes on <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/10/17553774/electric-bikes-seattle-parks-trails">certain trails</a>.</p>
<p id="ziegjw">Because e-bikes are expensive, if a company has more than 50 percent e-bikes in its fleet, it’ll need to have a low-income fare requirement.</p>
<p id="SBnuYF">As with the pilot, all bikes have to meet <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title16/16cfr1512_main_02.tpl">federal</a> and <a href="https://www.iso.org/ics/43.150/x/">international</a> sets of safety guidelines. Bikes also have to comply with Washington’s bike light laws, which currently require a white light in the front and a rear reflector in the back.</p>
<p id="aRHPCS">Lime, the second company to debut shared bikes in Seattle—and the only one currently operating e-bikes—expressed enthusiasm in an emailed statement.</p>
<p id="MpLzHI">We’ll absolutely be applying for bike-share permits when they become available next month,” Gabriel Scheer, Director for Strategic Development at Lime, “and plan to continue to serve this city and beyond with viable, accessible and affordable mobility options.”</p>
<p id="d26l9P">Spin did not immediately return a request for comment. Ofo, meanwhile, announced late last week that they’d be leaving Seattle—and while that comes as the company withdraws from many U.S. cities, Seattle General Manager Lina Feng told Seattle Bike Blog that the “exorbitant fees that accompany these new regulations ... make it impossible for ofo to operate.” Feng said Ofo would not be seeking a permit.</p>
<p id="XqoN8t">In the meantime, Uber-owned, electric-only bike-share outfit Jump has been exploring moving into Seattle. Spokesperson Nathan Hambley said in an emailed statement that Uber is still making sure that the regulations can support Jump bikes.</p>
<p id="gJitQB">“For trips less than one mile in flat areas, pedal bikes may be attractive, but for commuters or those traveling longer distances or on hilly routes, adequately-powered e-bikes make more sense,” said Hambley. “We’re hopeful we can bring Jump bikes to Seattle, but we’re still waiting to review the final permit regulations.” </p>
https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/7/30/17632716/seattle-bike-share-permanent-rulesSarah Anne Lloyd