Switching gears: Barrie staff asks council to invest in cycling infrastructure, not bike and e-scooter sharing programs

The wheels may never fully turn on a bicycle and e-scooter ride-sharing program in Barrie.

On Nov. 9, city council is expected to task staff with looking at revenue-neutral programs set up in other similarly-sized Canadian municipalities. The intention is to see whether a multi-year ride-sharing program would be feasible in the city.

But staff estimate a bicycle program alone may require a fleet startup cost of between $600,000 and $800,000. That would buy about 300 bikes.

The bicycle share could then take $300,000 to $900,000 to operate annually, though some of that would be offset by rental fees. Conventional and electrical pedal assist bikes could be available to rent.

A scooter program, meanwhile, would likely feature kick-style electric models.

These programs have typically run in larger urban cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Hamilton. A bike share can either be municipally-run or a business venture; e-scooter programs are usually privately operated.

However, staff say a program may be challenging to set up due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the city’s population size and density.

“In 2020, several large scooter share providers withdrew their services in many major cities worldwide, due to increasingly precarious financial positions,” development services director Michelle Banfield said in a report to city council members. “Kelowna (B.C.) and Kingston both had their private bike share operator cease operations, citing little demand for bike rentals and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Kelowna officials say a $1 million annual subsidy would be needed to attract a new operator.

Hamilton’s bike-share program ceased functioning June 1, as the private operator chose to terminate its contract early. A local not-for-profit organization did step up to revive the share for the rest of the year, through donations and crowdfunding. But it’s unclear whether the program will continue in 2021, Banfield said.

“Based on the research by city staff, the investment in a bike (and) scooter share program is not anticipated to measurably advance active transportation objectives when compared to investing in infrastructure,” she said.

In a related report, the city says it has made significant strides in its effort to expand active transportation infrastructure such as trails, bike lanes and sidewalks, since the completion of the Multi-Modal Active Transportation Master Plan in 2014.

The city’s long-term vision would see $120 million invested in 335 kilometres of cycling network by 2041.

Over the past six years alone, the city has added nearly 37 kms — much of that by reallocating road space for bike lanes. This fall, another 5.6 kms of cycling infrastructure will be proposed to council, Banfield said.

“The city’s continued actions and investment to support the implementation of active transportation infrastructure is critical to support planned growth, as well as benefitting residents by providing an alternative mode of transportation that benefits health, is socially equitable, fosters economic activity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change,” she said.