A bikeshare system may be in Kelowna's near future.
Kelowna City Council will look at a proposal for a dockless bikeshare pilot program, aiming to launch in spring 2018.
Council will receive the report from the transit and programs manager on the Dropbike Inc. bikeshare program on Jan. 22.
Users find a dropbike through the smartphone app and scan the QR code to unlock it. When the user is finished with the bike, it is parked at any “haven” location, marked both on the app and physically on the parking location. The cost to rent the bike is $1 per hour.
According to the report, docks are the most expensive part of a bikeshare program. The report estimates the cost of installing docks at up to $3,500 per bike.
Some of the benefits of a bikeshare program outlined in the report include better access to transit, the support of climate change and land use planning, increased road safety, and less traffic congestion.
Some of the requirements for the consideration of the pilot program would include a minimum of 500 bikes deployed as early as April 1, 2018, along with a selection parking areas, or havens, to be approved by the city.
The pilot would be for an 18-month period with the city conducting a survey of residents and Dropbike users after the pilot's end date to decide on the future of the program.
If the proposal is approved, the next step will be to bring forward a license agreement to city council for consideration at a later date.
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