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MTC Issues Call for Bike Share Capital Projects

Author: Bike East Bay

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is soliciting proposals from cities outside of the planned Bike Share program area to fund capital purchase and initial implementation costs. 

Read the Call For Projects document. 

About the Bike Share Capital Program

  • $2M is available in the first cycle in grant amounts ranging from $500K to $1.25M
  • This program is a way for cities not included in the current expansion (that is, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Emeryville and Berkeley) to receive funding to start or expand their own bike share program.
  • Public agencies, businesses, non-profits and community organizations are eligible for funding
  • There is no obligation to purchase the same type of bikes or contract with the same operator as Bay Area Bike Share. 
  • The program is funded through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and because of associated constraints, cannot fund ongoing operation of a bike share program. 
  • Deadline for applications is June 17, 2016

While MTC’s goal with the program is to “expand bicycle access and bicycle use and to facilitate multimodal transportation in connection with transit” we are disappointed that these funds cannot be used by cities within the existing Bay Area Bike Share program to expand their network of stations. Successful bike share programs have a high density of bikes spread throughout a city to ensure a wide variety of destinations are accessible via the system.

On the other hand, we’re also interested in seeing smaller systems popping up in the further reaches of the East Bay. If done right, they can indeed help provide better access to multi-modal transportation and increase the number of people choosing to ride bikes in their cities. 

We would like to see our concern regarding having a seamless system that integrates well with public transportation addressed. Having a bike share membership that is valid in San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco will be one of the upsides of Bay Area Bike Share. Will a stand-alone system in Pleasanton, for example, have the same benefits? 

Want your city to apply for these funds? Let us know – cynthia@bikeeastbay.org

More information on MTC’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program.

Read the Call for Projects document with application information.