THE DEAL
People looking to sample the relatively new bike-share system in Burlingame and Millbrae can try the bikes for free on Wednesday evening, Sept.13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Additional incentive promotions will follow in the weeks and months to come.
The electric-assist bikes were launched back in May and are still gaining riders and fans according to Sigalle Michael, the city of Burlingame’s sustainability program manager.
“It's still a new program and people are getting used to it,” said Michael. “Currently we’re seeing an average of 50 rides on the weekdays and about 75 rides on the weekends, but the numbers vary greatly from week to week. Ideally, we’d be happy with an average of roughly 100 trips per day.”
BIKE-SHARE 101
There are 200 of the e-bikes spread throughout the two-city region. They’re provided by San Francisco-based Spin under a two-year contract at no cost to the cities. In order to help promote the alternative transportation, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) issued $400,000 in Measure W grant funds through the ACR/TDM Program and each city is contributing an additional $20,000 of their own funds.
The goal of the bike share program is to provide a first-and-last-mile solution for commuters and residents. It’s a means of connecting transit lines with businesses and homes.
The vehicles are geo-fenced, meaning when they’re ridden beyond the Burlingame/Millbrae city limits, the electric assist stops working.
PARKING
Parking of bikes is one concern with launching a bike share system like this, but Michael says her city has had relatively few complaints regarding bikes blocking sidewalks, driveways, or other rights-of-way. She also says the system’s bike corrals are working well.
Spin offers a financial incentive for riders to return their bikes to the corrals, but it’s not mandatory. Riders can also park at bike racks, on a sidewalk (so long as there is a minimum of three feet for pedestrians to pass), in the dirt/gravel next to the sidewalk, and in parks.
Riders are not permitted to park the bikes in the streets, on private property, or in a way the blocks an entrance to a building or sidewalk access.
“I enjoy connecting with residents to explain how the system works and why it’s good for the community,” said Michael. “Once they understand everything behind it, then they’re more likely to support it.”
