Bellevue considers Seattle-like bikeshare program
Sep 11, 2017, 2:15 PM | Updated: 5:40 pm
A Spin bikeshare bike poses for a photo near Bellevue City Hall. (City of Bellevue)
(City of Bellevue)
The City of Bellevue is looking into bikeshare programs, much like what is currently being tested in Seattle.
According to the city’s website: “The City of Bellevue is exploring the public’s interest in potential bike share services as part of the Pedestrian & Bicycle Implementation Initiative. ”
RELATED: A Libertarian changed his mind about Seattle bikeshares
The city states that “several” private companies have approached Bellevue with interest in planting a bikeshare in the Eastside town. Exactly what private companies are not named. The city’s website explaining the issue, however, features a bright orange cruiser bike — very similar to the Spin bikes that many in Seattle are familiar with.
The Seattle Bike Blog also reports that Bellevue City Hall will host an “Eastside Bike Share Vendor Fair” on Sept. 27 from 5-7 p.m. The event will showcase different types of bikeshares, such as stationless, hub-based, and electrical assisted bikes.
In the meantime, Bellevue is seeking public input on the potential for bikeshares within its city limits. It has organized an online survey to gauge public opinion on bike use in Bellevue.
This is not the first time that the Eastside community has considered a bikeshare program. Redmond conducted a feasibility study on bikeshares in 2016. At the time, a city representative said that Redmond, Bellevue, Issaquah and Kirkland were all looking into the potential for a regional bike-share system.
Bikeshare in Seattle
Seattle currently has three private bikeshare companies licensed to take part in a pilot program that will run through the end of the year — Spin, Limebike, and ofo. All three are stationless, meaning that they can be picked up and dropped off practically anywhere in town, without the need for a dock to park them. Customers use their smartphones to purchase time on the bike.
More and more bikes have been phased into Seattle since July. Today, each bike share is allowed up to 2,000 bikes each. More will be allowed as the program continues.
As the shared bikes continue to be added to Seattle streets, the Seattle Department of Transportation has released a video to explain how to better use them, addressing some common concerns. The video even addresses the many inconvenient places that people have left the bikes — from atop the Fremont Troll, to the bottom of Lake Union.
