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By Katerina Im, Bikeshare Hawaii Intern
Over the last decade, bike sharing has taken off in cosmopolitan cities across the world. Biking itself has numerous health and environmental benefits, and bike sharing is convenient and cost effective. As of 2021, there were over 3,000 programs across the world and that number has continued to grow.
The Meddin Bike-sharing World Map
South America (Brazil)
Based in Brazil, Tembici is the largest bike sharing company in Latin America. Tembici operates in three countries: Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and has 18,800 bikes. This successful company has been popular among South Americans due to its “comfort” aspect. In 2022 study, 39%* of Tembici users cited “comfort” (convince) as their main reason for using the bike sharing system. One of the benefits of bike sharing is that riders do not have to pay outright for a bike, for maintenance, or storage. Another striking fact the study found was that percentage of usership among female Tembici riders was 38%* higher than the average percentage of female cyclists in countries where Tembici operates. Many women expressed their affinity towards safeness of the bike sharing program.
Additionally, Tembici’s success can be attributed to its partnerships with other companies in their community. iFood is a food delivery company, similar to BiteSquad, that works with Tembici in Brazil to use 2,500 bikes for their services. Tembici hopes to expand its network of riders and wants to add 10,000 bikes by the end of the year.
Europe (Netherlands)
Bike sharing’s popularity only rose in the recent decades, but was actually invented in Amsterdam in the 1965. The world’s first bike sharing program was called the Witte Fietsenplan (the White Bicycle Plan). The Witte Fietsenplan was started by a group of young activists who painted some bikes white and left them around the city for people to use free of charge. The white bikes were a symbol of protest against the growing number of cars in Amsterdam. Cars caused air pollution, burdened the city’s unfit infrastructure, and made streets dangerous for children to play in. However, the original Wittee Fietsenplan did not turn out to be successful because the bikes were quickly removed by police and Amsterdam’s city planners did not see biking as “the future.”
Today, there are multiple bike sharing programs in Amsterdam and 38% of all trips in the city are taken by bike (both personal and through sharing programs).
Africa (Rwanda)
In many African cities, air pollution is a major health and environmental concern. In the hustle and bustle of the cities, traffic can get heavy and many of the cars on the road are older models, which emit more pollutants.
Kigali, Rwanda just launched its first bike sharing program in partnership with Guraride in 2021. Guraride started out with 80 bikes and hopes to expand their program. To increase ridership and get the residents of Kigali accustomed to bike share programs, Guraride offers the first 30 days of their membership free.
Kigali hopes to use biking and bike sharing as a method to reduce carbon emissions and pollution in their city. There are plans to increase the length of bike lanes, making biking a safer and more viable transportation option in the city.
Asia (China)
China is infamous around the world for its air pollution. To combat their poor air quality and heavy traffic, the Chinese government and private companies invested large amounts of money into clean transportation over the last decade. Bike sharing blasted China’s urban streets starting in 2007, but by 2019 the bike sharing bubble burst and bike graveyards became prevalent. There were too many bikes and not enough users in Chinese cities.
Despite its massive failure, bike sharing has come back to China, but on a smaller and more carefully planned out scale. The more “thoughtful” bike sharing programs have shown success, especially with the help of AI in placing bikes/docks in locations with high biking demand. Additionally, electric bikes are being introduced to the bike share mix, making long distance biking easier. During the pandemic, biking has become more popular among Chinese citizens because it avoids the risks of catching illnesses on public transportation.
Australia
Similar to China, bike sharing in Australia also saw difficulties. Bike sharing programs dealt with problems of having too many bikes, not enough users, stealing, and bike littering. Many programs in Australia used the method of dock less biking, where users can simply park their bikes at bike racks or along sidewalks. While dock less biking may seem like a convenient idea, it also causes a lot of vandalism and stealing. Australia also has harsh helmet and bike laws with significant fines that may scare away potential bikers.
Certain bike share companies left Australian cities, but others are starting up on a smaller scale. There is also hope that e-bike systems will be more popular in Australia.
North America (New York, USA)
In 2013, the Citi Bike program, part of Lyft, was launched in New York City and has grown to be the largest bike sharing system in the U.S.. After the height of the pandemic, Citi Bikes have grown even more popular among New Yorkers and the company cannot keep up with the demand. New York City has a goal to increase the size of the fleet from 24,000 to 40,000 bikes by the end of 2024.
New Yorkers love bike sharing because it is a convenient, environmentally-friendly, and fast option. Traffic in New York is always extremely bad, so in many instances, biking can be faster than driving. NYC is also making it easier and safer for bikers by adding more bike lanes— both regular and protected.
Not all residents are liking the rise in bikers, however. The expanded bike lanes compete with outdoor dining spaces, complaints from drivers, and fewer parking stalls. However, overall, both New Yorkers and their government officials are looking to bike sharing as an integral part of the future of clean transportation in the most populated city in America.
Of course, in Hawaii, we have our own bike sharing program— Biki! With 130 stations, Biki provides a great “green” and convenient way to travel throughout downtown Honolulu. Whether you are a local or a tourist, include Biki as a part of your transportation plan to travel around the city of Honolulu.
Guest Blogger: Katerina Im is a rising Senior at Punahou School. She is very passionate about environmental issues and is especially interested in climate change and plastic pollution. Learn more about her non-profit, Plastics 4 A Purpose.
Sources
Sources:
- https://www.pbsc.com/blog/2021/10/the-meddin-bike-sharing-world-map#:~:text=As%20of%20August%202021%2C%20there,sharing%20systems%20across%20the%20world
- https://labsnews.com/en/news/business/tembici-bike-sharing-study/
- https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/apr/26/story-cities-amsterdam-bike-share-scheme?scrlybrkr=d3cfcce3
- https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-59318660
- https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/4-big-bike-sharing-trends-from-china-that-could-outlast-covid-19/
- https://findingspress.org/article/7615-stationless-in-sydney-the-rise-and-decline-of-bikesharing-in-australia
- https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/tips-resources/bike-friendly-communities/public-bikes/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/02/nyregion/citi-bike-parking-docking-station.html
by Peter R., Guest Blogger
Where did bikeshare start? You probably won’t be surprised.
Along with a legal red-light district, public pot smoking and canals, Amsterdam is known as a city where cyclists rule. It has not always been so. Amsterdam leaders got serious about reducing auto congestion by supporting cycling in the 1970s. Since then, the city has become an elaborate network of cycle-paths and lanes, so safe and comfortable that even toddlers and elderly people use bikes as the easiest mode of transport.
So, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that in 1965, Amsterdam was home to what is now considered the first bikeshare system. Luud Schimmelpennink – considered the father of bikeshare – started Witte Fietsen ("White Bikes"). He collected bicycles, painted them white and simply left them on the streets for public use. With no locks or payment system, however, many bicycles were quickly damaged and stolen. Witte Fietsen seemed like a failure but it laid the foundation for bikeshare.
Though it took 20 years to revive, the concept was not forgotten. The next major bikeshare, called Copenhagen City Bikes, eventually secured public and private funding which allowed it to flourish. Bycykler København featured fixed docks where riders deposited a coin to unlock a bike. The coin was returned when the bike was returned to a dock.
It was only in the 2000s, and particularly within the last decade, that bikeshare would catch on. The transport mode grew from just 13 in 2004 to 855 in 2014.
Washington D.C was the first US city to launch a bikeshare system: Capitol Bikes in 2010. It continues to be one of the most popular systems in the nation and has attracted several other scooter and e-bike players.
Bikesharing in Hawaii
Hawaii B-Cycle was Hawaii's first introduction to modern bikeshare in 2011. It was a three-year pilot project limited to Kailua Oahu. The two-station and 12-bike system was a partnership between the State Department of Health, Momentum Multisport, and B-Cycle.
A year later, the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative & the State Department of Health identified bikeshare in Urban Honolulu as a key strategy and a Bikeshare Working Group was formed with the goal of bringing a public, large-scale bikeshare system to Honolulu.
Biki was launched in 2017 it has been one of the most heavily used systems per-capita in the country. We face the same challenges as other cities in the early transition to more bicycle use: vandalism, funding challenges, some lingering antipathy from motorists. But, in just 5 short years, Biki has become fully integrated into the city and is regularly used by more than 100,000 annual riders. Bikeshare makes cycling more accessible and more affordable for residents and visitors, and gets more people on bikes. And when more people are on bikes, there is more demand for safe places to ride. In just 5 short years the city has improved and extended existing bikeways, installed bike infrastructure on Pensacola, Ward and Alakea, and planned for the design of several more complete streets projects.
Will Honolulu ever be an Amsterdam or Copenhagen or even Paris for bikeshare and other personal or “micro” mobility? Only time will tell, but we think we're headed in the right direction.
By Jasmine Utu, Biki Ambassador
I’m currently here in American Samoa for work and have been for the past month. After 30 days, you start to realize the normalcies and routine that you actually have. Mine definitely included biki (along with Moku Kitchen, but that’s another story). I started to have “withdrawals”.
For most of the island, transportation is either done by car or by mini-buses (Tacoma size pick-up trucks with campers going around the island to pick up students and residents). I saw a few individuals on bicycles and noticed their rides were to the next couple of houses or so. Which makes sense because roads aren’t as well maintained, and bike lanes are non-existent.
I realized how lucky I am to be able to have convenient options at my disposal for commuting and recreating. It is a privilege. Choices that I can pick and choose to get from where I am to where I want, or need, to be. And not only that, but to be able to bikeshare nonetheless.
I work in tech and to think of bikesharing as a piece of modernization was something I hadn’t given much thought because I was so familiar with it as part of my everyday life. But if you’ve never had the option to bikeshare, you’d never know what you’re missing out on. However, living in a community that has those opportunities, it’s made me more grateful and more motivated to share it with others.
In places like American Samoa, many of the roads are one way in and one way out, rural, and loaded with trucks and cars piling in line just to get to a village less than 5-10 miles away. Progressing technology and enriching communities doesn’t have to look too futuristic and lose the heart of the home. It could be simplistic. Paved roads, bike lanes, and reliable bikes. Island-sized areas with less unnecessary car congestion, adding a more sustainable commute, and increasing an active lifestyle, all while matching the pace of life.
Many residents said engineering the roads to be less overgrown and keeping them maintained to sustain resilience against weather conditions, would be a step towards the modernization necessary for their home and community. It’s the little things that can have such a big impact. Imagine even our own Oahu with more bike lanes, bike stations, bikesharing, and maintained roads? I think we can all agree perfectly maintained roads and paths sounds blissful. Sometimes it takes getting out of your own neighborhood and comfortable schedule to gain a little perspective and inspiration.
For now, it’s baby steps towards seeing a future that I want for Honolulu and the rest of Hawaii. It’s using what’s already in my hands. Time and amateur skill to teach a friend how to ride a bike, get someone going on their first biki experience, gather a group of friends to get out and ride to your favorite beach spot, or just talk to people in my workplace and community about bikeshare. It’s funny how biking can elevate a conversation to many directions – nostalgia, jitters and butterflies of trying it, new thoughts, considerations, and the classic debate… pronouncing biki as "beekee" or "bick-ee".
Despite how I choose to say it, I’m grateful for the opportunity to biki, to have it in my city, and to have the privilege to share it with others. A classic piece of technology to restore a neighborhood and progress a community.
Why bikeshare should be part of every resident's transportation diet
By Morgan Pōmaikaʻi Lee, 2021 Biki Ambassador
Any of these situations sound familiar?
- You've circled around for 10 minutes looking for parking before settling for a spot a 15-minute walk from your destination.
- You've decided not to attend something because you don't want to spend $20 to park.
- You're going to carpool to hang out on the other side of the island with friends but they want you to meet them at their house and you don't want to leave your car there all day.
- Your bike, your primary mode of transportation, has a flat tire.
- You wanted to bike there, but it's going to be really inconvenient to return that way after you do your grocery shopping.
- You're spending too much money on gas.
- You can take TheBus, but the route isn't direct and takes twice as long with all the frequent stops.
- You're going to arrive together but don't want the pressure of leaving when everyone else does.
- The prices of ridesharing apps turned nightmarish seemingly overnight.
If you nodded your head in frustration to any of these scenarios, I feel your pain. Most of us don't think we devote significant amounts of mental energy to transportation, but working through the logistics of getting here and there can easily turn into spending 30 extra minutes on Google Maps and texting our friends. As a bike owner who doesn't have my own car, one of the biggest hacks of my adult life has my bikeshare membership. Time and time again, bikeshare has offered my friends and I alternatives, solutions, and back-ups without us having to spend more money or waste time problem solving. And, when we're not just turning to bikes to overcome any of these logistical obstacles, incorporating Biki into our daily lives keeps the cost of living down on an expensive island.
As a reminder: Kama'āina pay as little as $15 per month for unlimited access to bikes at over 130 Biki Stops across downtown Honolulu. If you're a Hawaii resident and haven't taken advantage of this deal yet, I urge you to sign up ASAP.
During a visit to Hawaii during COVID-19, California residents Huy and Heather decided to use Biki as a socially-distant and fun way to explore the city.
Is Biki/biking a new hobby for you?
This was our first time on the Biki bicycles! We saw posts online and were beyond stoked to finally get the opportunity to check them out while we were on Oahu.
Where and why do you ride?
After strolling through Ala Moana Center, we decided to head to Aloha Tower as we had never ventured over in that direction. So, we looked up the map on the Biki website and located a Biki station right across the street from the mall on the Foodland side. Within just a few minutes, we pulled out our bicycles and off we went. We rode back through Ala Moana Beach Park and finished our adventure at L&L's for a delicious plate lunch.
What do you like about Biki?
Biki is such a great addition to the island of Oahu. Yes, it's easy to call for a ride-share service or even wait for The Bus, but having the ability to ride at your own pace and soak in the sights, sounds, and ocean breeze is just priceless. We felt super safe riding around with our masks on and not having to worry about the safety precautions in a ride share service. It's easy to find the different stations and the kiosk machine is simple to use, so we definitely plan to using Biki again.
We appreciated seeing the Biki Crew checking on the bikes and stations around Honolulu, which truly shows the care being put into the service. We like how Biki bikes are secured at the stations, unlike in other cities where we see scooters left strewn about the streets/sidewalks, causing a sore eye and obstructing access to businesses.
Best Biki Tip for other riders:
Planning your route ahead of time is definitely a good idea so you don't accrue extra charges, stay in the bike lane as much as you can, adhere to the traffic signals, look both ways, but most importantly have fun!
planning to visit oahu?
- Check out our station map to plan your Biki adventure. We have over 1200 bikes and 136 biki stops at some of the top destinations throughout urban Honolulu.
- Familiarize yourself with the local bicycling laws and safe rider tips.
- Review our COVID-19 protocols and procedures to find out the steps we're taking to keep the community safe.
Have a Biki story you want to share? We'd love to hear it! Email kelsey@bikesharehawaii.org.
By Sultan White, Elemental Excelerator Mobility Intern
Disclaimer: Please check Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) regularly for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.
are we allowed to ride and is it safe?
While we must all do our part to slow the spread of coronavirus by social distancing and staying at home as much as possible, research shows that it may come at the cost of our mental health and well-being. I know I’m not the only one who’s felt a little stir crazy staying home all day. Thankfully, biking (my favorite outdoor activity) is considered a low-risk activity and it is not currently a restricted activity in the State of Hawaiʻi! Biki riders can rest assured that we are taking extra precautions to ensure our kiosks, bikes, and stations are regularly and thoroughly disinfected for your safety.
What equipment should I wear?
Hawaii's mask mandate, requires everyone on O‘ahu to wear face coverings over their noses and mouths at indoor public spaces as well as outdoor areas. However, there are a few circumstances exempt from the Order, such as when individuals are engaging in physical activity.
While you are NOT required to wear a mask on a Biki bike, it's good to have one in your back pocket in case you need to stop somewhere. It's not recommended to breathe through a damp or sweaty mask, but if you choose to wear a face covering while riding, consider this full-face visor attached to a bicycle helmet! If you are a first responder and use your bike to help during the pandemic, they will even donate one to you.
Recent research has found it’s likely that 90 percent or more of the virus when found on a surface will be inactivated after being exposed to midday sunlight for between 11 and 34 minutes. However, you should continue to do everything you can to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Bring some hand sanitizer or wipes with you to use before and after your ride, or wash your hands with soap as soon as possible. And, remember not to touch your face! The virus can enter the body through the nose, mouth or eyes. I know we all get that urge to wipe the sweat away, but for now you’ll have to let it drip!
Using bikeshare is no riskier than interacting with other shared surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails and benches, so the same prevention tips apply.
Boost your immune system!
As long as you are not already sick or showing symptoms, exercising and cycling could actually boost your immune system. Cycling not only keeps you physically strong, but also positively affects your mood and emotions. The mind-body connection is so powerful that being happy can lead to a healthier and longer life!
Absolutely DO NOT exercise if you are already sick, have symptoms such as a fever and cough, or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. “Sweating it out” is a myth and can prolong your illness AND you can put others at risk of catching your illness. Other than exercise, plenty of sleep and a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables are highly recommended.
Is it safe to ride in groups?
Biking remains one of the best activities to stay socially distant while still enjoying the company of your family and friends! This is one of the reasons the popular Kalakaua Open Street Sundays events have been extended through the end of July. The safest option is to exercise outside alone, rather than in gyms with big groups of people. It's a good idea to maintain 6ft of physical distance when riding and while at Biki Stops.
Current Bicycle Transportation Legislation in DC
Guest Blogger: Michelle K.
On July 30, 2019, the US Senate passed a bipartisan bill, S2302, called America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act. The name makes me think of freeway cloverleaves and our HART rail system, but actually there are several bicycle-centric programs included in the funding that will update current bike infrastructure, as well as earmark money for some pilot programs that address our future transportation needs. I read that over the last 25 years, federal surface transportation legislation has committed around $15 billion, that’s with a “B”, in bike lanes, bike paths, trails, and other projects that make bike commuting and recreating safer and easier throughout the United States.
1. Transportation Alternatives Program
The popular TAP, Transportation Alternatives Program, would get $1.2 billion. This one is popular because it is a major source of federal funds for our local government agencies to tap into via grants that address concerns that are specific to Oahu bike riders and make our current funding efforts a reality.
TAP helped fund 30% of the expansion of the Biki bikeshare system in 2018. A nice overview of funded Oahu TAP projects can be found here.
2. Recreation Trails Program
The RTP, Recreation Trails Program, provides funds to develop and maintain our off-road bike trails and trailheads. The funding for this program already comes from fuel taxes, not for your car, but the “gas” you buy for your boat, jet ski, ATV, and other recreational vehicles. What’s included in this current bill is a study that looks at how those fuel taxes are collected and distributed. Results of this study could end up increasing how much money our state allocates to make these improvements in off-road infrastructure.
3. Safety Incentive Program
A third program would fund grants to local municipalities for infrastructure that is designed to make improvements to pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Things like street lighting, signage, and safety barriers in between bikeways and vehicle lanes come to mind. This one is aptly named the Safety Incentive Program and there is currently $500 million proposed in the Senate’s budget for it.
This version of the bill also includes funding for a 'Center of Excellence' that would, among other things, evaluate how docked and dockless bikeshare programs, like Biki, influence real estate values and urban design plans. Personally, when I was working with a realtor to purchase my Honolulu condo recently, proximity to a Biki station was high on my needs list. I’m interested in knowing how this translates into property values, if at all.
show your support:
This bill (Safety Incentive Program) is now being discussed in the US House and will go through several committees before it reaches the President’s desk for final approval, so now is a great time to email our congresspersons and ask for their support. The following folks represent you as Oahu residents and sit on the committees that will review this bill and figure out where the funding will come from:
Senate Banking Committee: Senator Brian Schatz (https://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact)
House of Representatives Transportation Committee: Henry J.C. Aquino (repaquino@Capitol.hawaii.gov)
References:
about our guest blogger:
Michelle moved to Oahu a little over a year ago and quickly became a Biki user as she is determined to maintain her car-free lifestyle for as long as possible. This is her first blog post for Biki.
Have a story or bike-related news to share with the Biki community? Email kelsey@bikesharehawaii.org to get in touch.
