FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
John Brady
503-577-8236
john.brady@portlandoregon.gov
Portland Bureau of
Transportation
Twitter @PBOTinfo
News Release
BIKETOWN
2016 Report:
Survey shows BIKETOWN supports local business, tourism and reduces car trips
Portlanders
and visitors take 160,000 trips in five and a half months
 (January 18, 2017) In five and a half short months, the bright
orange bikes of BIKETOWN have reduced automobile use, increased access to local
businesses and expanded tourism opportunities. Those are some of the key
findings of a survey of more than 2,400 people who have used Portland’s bike
share system since it launched July 19.
The survey, which included one-time users as well as annual
members, found 26 percent of Portlanders using BIKETOWN said they used it
instead of driving a car and 64 percent said they are biking more.
The survey shows BIKETOWN supports local businesses. Among
tourists using BIKETOWN, 71 percent said they rode an orange bike to reach
stores or restaurants. Also, 69 percent of local residents using BIKETOWN said
they were more likely to patronize a business near the colorful orange
stations.
Since the launch of BIKETOWN on July 19, there have been over 160,000
trips taken on the City’s bike share system totaling 312,690 miles (the equivalent
of 49 round-trip rides from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine).
In 2016, 38,000 people have used BIKETOWN in Portland and 3,000 of
them have committed to annual memberships. The average trip length for all
users is 1.57 miles and the average trip time is 24 minutes.
“We are thrilled with how quickly BIKETOWN has been embraced by
Portlanders and visitors alike,” Portland Transportation Director Leah Treat
said. “This survey shows BIKETOWN makes it easy for people to use bikes instead
of cars for short trips, reducing congestion, pollution and carbon emissions.
We are incredibly proud that this new transportation option has helped increase
biking in Portland while at the same time strengthening the local economy and
supporting local business.”
The survey, sent to all BIKETOWN users in November 2016, provided
additional insight into the usage and popularity of the service. Among the
survey’s findings:
BIKETOWN is delivering on its promise to increase biking and
reduce car trips:
- 26% of BIKETOWN trips eliminated
car trips (among locals)
- 64% of resident/commuters
surveyed said they’re biking more
- 20% of locals reduced their car
ownership or have considered it
BIKETOWN strengthens the local economy and supports local
businesses
- 56% of BIKETOWN tourist riders surveyed
said that bicycling opportunities were a factor in their decision to visit
Portland.
- 71% of out-of-town BIKETOWN
users reported using BIKETOWN to reach shopping or restaurant
destinations.
- 69% of local BIKETOWN users
said they were more likely to patronize a business near a BIKETOWN
station.
BIKETOWN users rated BIKETOWN’s system performance highly, rating
all aspects of performance good or excellent.
Said survey respondent and BIKETOWN user Megan Cwiklinski, “I ride
a bicycle all the time now because of the convenience of BIKETOWN. I use them
everyday to and from work and just to get around in the Portland area. BIKETOWN
is so easy to use and I love not having to worry about locking and storing my
own bike!”
“My family moved back to Portland in August of this year after
having been out of the country for 6 years. We decided to buy one car when we
came back and see if we needed a second,” said BIKETOWN user Erik Swanson. “I
was not aware of BIKETOWN bikes before moving back, but was pleased to find stations
both a block from my house and a block from my work. I have been using your
bikes every day to get to and from work and to work meetings downtown, and I
love it! My family does not need to purchase a second car, and biking through
the city is such a nice way to start and end my day.”
The most popular BIKETOWN station is SW Salmon at Waterfront Park,
with a total of 12,387 trips starting or ending at the location. BIKETOWN continues to be
popular even as rain and snow fall in Portland. During a recent snow event on Wednesday,
December 14, five people joined BIKETOWN as new members with single ride
passes, presumably as an alternate means of travel during winter weather
conditions.
Looking forward, PBOT will continue to enhance its partnership with the
Community Cycling Center to provide discounted memberships to Portlanders
living on low incomes through its BIKETOWN for ALL program. The Community
Cycling Center partners with affordable housing, social service and community
organizations to connect those in need with BIKETOWN memberships, including
cash membership options for those without a credit or debit card. In 2016,
BIKETOWN for All members took 776 trips.
In 2017, PBOT hopes to increase both the number of trips and
number of people using BIKETOWN. As a new service, BIKETOWN’s usage is expected
to grow as more people become familiar with this transportation option. Half of
respondents said that bringing BIKETOWN to new areas would help them use the
service more. PBOT and its partners will continue to review ridership demographics and to look for opportunities to encourage more Portlanders to use the bikes and bring BIKETOWN to new
neighborhoods while staying a financially sustainable public service.
Learn more about BIKETOWN at www.biketownpdx.com
About PBOT
The Portland Bureau of
Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a
community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and
maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and
mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation
About Nike
Nike believes in the power of sport and physical activity to help
strengthen communities. As a longtime partner with the City of Portland,
BIKETOWN highlights the company’s commitment to make Portland even more active,
vibrant and innovative. As part of this collaboration, Nike designed the
innovative visual identity for the program’s standard bike which is
the highly identifiable orange that is synonymous with Nike. In addition, Nike
oversees the design and branding of the system’s logo, stations and physical
presence, as well as a select number of limited edition bike wrap designs,
beginning with the Nike Air Max 95, Nike Air Trainer 1 and Nike Air Safari.
About Motivate
Motivate is a global leader
in bike share. A full-service bike share operator and technology innovator,
Motivate works to re-envision how people experience and move around cities.
Motivate operates over 75% of the bike share fleet in North America, including
the four largest systems in the US: Citi Bike in New York, Divvy in Chicago,
Capital Bikeshare in the D.C. area, Bay Area Bike Share (San Francisco Bay
Area) and Hubway in the Boston area. International Motivate bike share systems
include Bike Share Toronto and Melbourne Bike Share (Australia). www.motivateco.com
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