City of Sarasota: Trolly, scooter programs recognized with international mobility award

Media Contact:  Jan Thornburg, Senior Communications Manager: 941-650-9693; jan.thornburg@sarasotaFL.gov

Sarasota, FL:  The City of Sarasota’s Bay Runner trolley and micromobility program, featuring experiential rides while reducing traffic congestion, have been recognized by the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI) with an Award of Excellence for innovation.

The Bay Runner launched in early March with the slogan “Live more, drive less” and the e-scooter/bicycle rental sharing program rolled out just two weeks later with much anticipation. Both initiatives were welcomed enthusiastically, with riders opting to leave their car behind and enjoy a fun experience while traveling to the beach, shopping, dining or work.

“The motto of ‘Live more, drive less’ is perfectly put into practice with this experiential journey,” commented an award juror. “Transporting employees, residents, and tourists between the beach and downtown in a stress-free, fun manner, will have huge and lasting benefits to both riders and the City alike.”

The Bay Runner is a free open-air trolley with daily service from 8 a.m. to midnight running between downtown Sarasota through St. Armands Circle to Lido Beach and back every 20-30 minutes. The e-scooter/bicycle rental program, operated by Veo through a user mobile app, is reporting record demand in Sarasota.

Within the first two months, 41,000 people rode the Bay Runner and 37,600 individuals rented a scooter or bicycle for a short distance trip, helping to reduce traffic.

“The two programs are working together,” said Mark Lyons, Parking and Mobility General Manager. “We see people get off the trolley and get on a scooter and vice versa for the first or last mile of their trip. People are getting to their destination in an enjoyable, convenient way, and that’s making these mobility initiatives meaningful and impactful. We’re honored to be recognized with the IPMI’s Award of Excellence. Many people and agencies have supported these programs, and this award is the result of that commitment.”  

The Bay Runner was realized through a partnership between the City, Downtown Improvement District (DID), St. Armands Business Improvement District (BID) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  In addition to City economic development funds, and a $1.5 million FDOT grant, the DID and BID each allocated $50,000 toward the initial three-year trolley program. The service is operated by CPR Medical Transportation, which also operates the Siesta Key Breeze.

"Transportation options are central to improving traffic conditions in our community, and the immediate and continued success of the Bay Runner shows that people are clearly craving quicker, easier and cost-effective ways to move around downtown and out to the island,” said Commissioner Hagen Brody, who championed the trolley concept. “Thanks to the City Commission and our partners for supporting the Bay Runner and seeing the need for broader micro and multimodal transportation. It’s making a difference every day in our community.”

Veo offers e-scooters and bicycles for rent in designated parking corrals on rights-of-way throughout the city limits. The daily micro-mobility demand in Sarasota has surpassed Veo’s expectations with 1,000 rides just on Memorial Day.

“These innovative and effective mobility options are among the reasons why Sarasota is the top city to live within Florida and one of the best cities in the entire United States,” noted Mayor Erik Arroyo.  “This is how our residents and visitors want to get around our great city.  We have an impressive, professional team that worked hard to transform mobility ideas into reality, and we’re excited their efforts have been recognized by their peers internationally with this award.”

The trolley and micromobility options were first identified through the help of citizen input during the creation of the City’s first transportation master plan, Sarasota in Motion, adopted by the City Commission in 2020.

Information about the Bay Runner, including a route map, mobile app, accessibility and parking options, can be found at www.SarasotaBayRunner.com.  The Bay Runner mobile app allows for real-time trolley tracking and can be downloaded through the App Store and Google Play.

Education outreach is a focal point for Veo with the micromobility vendor hosting community events, sending safety reminders to registered users and more. Learn about Veo’s Sarasota service at www.VeoRide.com/Sarasota. FAQs about the e-scooter/rental program are available at www.SarasotaFL.gov.

Sarasota’s award submission received the highest marks of all entries in the category “Innovation in a Mobility, Transportation or Parking Program.” The City’s award-winning programs are featured in the IPMI’s June edition of Parking & Mobility magazine (pages 48-49).

The IPMI is the largest association in the world for parking, transportation and mobility professionals.

For more information contact Mark Lyons, Parking and Mobility General Manager:  941-263-6477.

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About the City of Sarasota:  Distinguished by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S. and the number one place in Florida, the City of Sarasota is a diverse and inclusive community located on Florida’s Suncoast with 56,000 year-round residents, several internationally recognized cultural arts venues, stunning sunsets along Lido Beach and Major League spring training baseball with the Baltimore Orioles. Learn more about us at www.SarasotaFL.Gov