Proposed Sacramento Regional Bike Share System Taking Shape

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) this week is scheduled to consider a proposal to authorize release of an RFP for a regional bike share system operator and bike share equipment.

Committee members from Sacramento, West Sacramento and Davis approved a system framework last month. According to a brief to the council's Board of Directors, SACOG said it's working with Toole Design "on the details of what a SACOG owned and operated system might look like and how each of the three pilot cities and additional partners might support the system."

"To that end, SACOG staff will be drafting formal agreements for how SACOG and various city councils and funding partners would together develop, own and operate the regional bike share system," SACOG said.  

According to the system framework, SACOG will ask the bike share operator to detail elements such as an IT system plan and testing, security policies, a station siting plan, bicycle prototype testing and website development.

SACOG says it will use a modified scope of work used by the city of Chicago with these key features:

• No cost to SACOG or bike share partners for this service.

• Brokers will propose a share of sponsorship or ad revenue as a fee for service.

• Brokers will pursue regional sponsors once a bike share vendor is selected and bike share system assets are evaluated for potential sponsorship value.

According to KCRA, the backers told the Sacramento City Council in May 2015 that the bike share program would have more than 600 bicycles at 78 rental stations. Users could purchase a day pass or annual pass. SACOG said the project has received $4.8 million to buy the bikes and infrastructure.

The system would initially operate in Sacramento, West Sacramento and Davis, according to the document released last fall. The system might also serve Sacramento City College, California State University, Sacramento and UC Davis.