At the August 17, 2023 BPAC meeting, OakDOT Transportation Planner Michael Randolph provided an update on the Oakland Electric Bike Lending Pilot Program. This project will provide communities with access to affordable medium- and long-term rentals with approximately 136 e-bikes, cargo bikes, and adaptive bikes at launch, while supporting community-run bike shops to perform maintenance and educate users. This five-year project is funded by a $1,000,000 grant from the Clean Mobility Options Voucher (CMO) program. Staff has also applied for an additional $500,000 from the CMO Voucher program, to help support operations of the program.

An excerpt of the presentation is below, followed by the full presentation and summary of discussion.

Program overview

• Inspired by Let’s Bike Oakland! 2019 Bike Plan
• Funded by the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Program: $1 million
• Applied for additional $500,000
• 137 E-bikes
• 3-4 week rental periods
• 3 locations where bikes can be checked out
• GRID Alternatives no longer involved. Staff taking some aspects in-house

Operations and logistics: tasks overview

• Contract with “Reservation Operation” partners – Community-based organizations
• Outreach & Engagement for E-bikes and the program
• Safety Education
• Conducting Rentals – Fare & Fee Operations
• Storage of Bikes
• Limited Maintenance

Next steps: Summer and Fall

• Release the RFPs for Operations and Maintenance
• Additional $500,000 funding from CMO
• Completion of Operations and Maintenance Contracts
• Complete Procurement of Vehicles

Presentation

Summary of discussion

• GRID Alternatives is no longer involved with this project. OakDOT staff are engaging with possible reservation partners, who will be involved with lending and limited bicycle maintenance.
• West Oakland and East Oakland neighborhoods like San Antonio and Fruitvale are some of the neighborhoods that will be served by this program.
• The program is designed to be funded by a State voucher for the first three years (through June 2026), and then for it to be self-sufficient in its fourth year of operation.
• A fee-based program (with $250 deposit) may be less accessible to members of the public who cannot afford it. The program may create capacity to allow electric bicycle lending for those who cannot afford the low-income $5-per-week lending fee.
• East Oakland access to the pilot program may be limited without an East Oakland-based program partner to help distribute and receive electric bicycles for lending reservations. Access to the program in deep East Oakland should be a priority for OakDOT, and OakDOT staff are committed to prioritizing this access despite funding, insurance, and partner organization capacity limitations.
• East Bay Community Energy may also be pursuing a similar electric bicycle lending program, in parallel with the City’s pilot program.
• The Scraper Bike Team has not yet had any direct communication with OakDOT about this program.