CityofSantaBarbara
Source: City of Santa Barbara
In conjunction with our Program Operator, BCycle, the City of Santa Barbara launched the first phase of the three-year Bike Share Pilot Program on January 28, 2021. On June 11, 2021, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to allow the three-year Pilot Program in the City’s Coastal Zone.
The Bike Share Pilot Program provides an affordable point-to-point e-bike ride with easy access to key destinations. Designed with short trips in mind, bike share is great for those trips that are too far to walk, but too close to drive. The Pilot Program will include the installation of 500 docks that will serve a fleet of around 250 pedal-assist e-bikes citywide. To date, the Pilot Program has 96 bikes and 192 docks in service outside of the Coastal Zone. Since program launch, Santa Barbara BCycle riders have taken 13,914 total trips and ridden 63,529 miles (as of May 31, 2021). With the addition of docking locations in the Coastal Zone, these ridership statistics are expected to increase due to the key destinations in the Coastal Zone and the amount of residents that live and work there.
City Staff will continue to work with BCycle, and internal and external stakeholders, to identify and install dock locations in the Coastal Zone. Installation of certain dock locations in the Coastal Zone began on June 18, with more installations scheduled in the coming weeks.
We continue to monitor ridership metrics to better understand how to shape the Program as an effective point-to-point transportation option. Because it is a Pilot Program, we need to fully build the network in order to evaluate its long term viability. At the end of the three-year Bike Share Pilot Program, we will return to the City’s Transportation Circulation Committee and City Council to determine if the Program is a good fit for the City. A Coastal Development Permit will be required if the program becomes permanent.
For more information, visit https://santabarbara.bcycle.com for the latest on BCycle in Santa Barbara.
I have a taken a couple trips on these bikes. For an ebike, they are relatively slow. The e assist is significantly slower than your standard ebike. I don’t think they pose any greater danger than a regular bike. That said, expect many more injuries since we don’t have adequate bike lanes in many of our downtown streets.
If they hit you, and you are injured, it could cost them a lot of money. I understand why parents think the sidewalk is a better alternative than the street for their kids but it really is not a good solution to the lack of safe spaces to play problem.