TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council Members
FROM: Kevin Burke, Town Manager
Dawn Marie Buckland, Deputy Town Manager
DATE: March 22, 2018
DEPARTMENT: Town Manager
Staff Contact Dawn Marie Buckland, 480.348.3555
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AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Bike Share in the Town of Paradise Valley
Body
Council Goals
Dockless bikes have presented both opportunities and challenges within several of the Town’s values. This study session item will provide an opportunity for the Council to explore strategies to preserve community interests in the areas of public safety, aesthetics, quality of life, and limited government.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Dockless bikes are a segment of the bike share industry. Through the use of a smart phone app, users can locate, unlock, and rent a bike. When the user is done with the bike, the user simply indicates on the app, and the bike is then locked for use until it is rented again. The bike does not have to be picked up or left at a designated location. This flexibility has provided both innovative opportunities and challenges.
Companies Lime Bike and ofo have recently begun surfacing throughout the Town of Paradise Valley. While these bikes are almost entirely deployed in the surrounding communities, riders enjoying this service do ride them into Town, and often leave them in the Town rights of way. As this has led to issues of blocking ADA accessible ramps and sidewalks, and at times creating roadway hazards, Town staff have picked up over 80 dockless bikes and contacted the vendors to retrieve. The vendors have been responsive overall and share the Town’s concerns that this is not an appropriate use of public resources.
Town staff has coordinated discussions with company representatives to learn more about the programs and company operations, as well as to share interests and concerns of the Town. The representatives have been responsive, not only to the Town’s questions, but also to suggestions on mitigating key areas of concern. They have also provided informational materials which are included in the Council packet.
Staff believes an ordinance may help to mitigate challenges of public safety, aesthetics, and limited government. Town staff would like Council feedback on key tenets to address these goals without creating an unnecessary target for future statewide legislation.
ATTACHMENTS:
PowerPoint
Industry Materials
Town Attorney Research Memo