UPDATE 4/21: The city council has approved at $1.5 million contract with CycleHop to bring a bike share program to St. Pete. Bike hubs will be located near the waterfront in St. Pete, in downtown along Central Avenue, and spread to a few more populated business areas in the city. The bike share program should begin early this fall.
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This Fall, a new event will open a few roads exclusively to cyclists. There has long been talk of making the city more bicycle-friendly through a bike share program. Local organizations like Critical Mass, and businesses such as St. Pete Bike Co-Op have worked hard to help make this city a safe one for cyclists. Coast Bike Share in Tampa has helped make our neighboring city's downtown area more accessible for residents and visitors alike while helping curb traffic congestion.
In late 2015, city council members in St. Pete ranked CycleHop, the same organization presiding over Tampa's bike share program, as the organization to oversee a program in the Burg. Mayor Kriseman intially hoped to use a portion of the money from the BP settlement, approximately $1 million, to help pay for the program. That amount has since been cut to $500k.
If the program were brought to St. Pete, the city would pay a little over $1 million for 300 bikes. CycleHop would cover all of the operating costs once the hubs were set up. If the program turned out to be a success then the city would have the option for a profit share with CycleHop. St. Pete has held several workshops focused on how to properly fund the prorgram. Our gorgeous and expansive waterfront area, burgeoning Central Avenue strip, growing food and arts scenes and an easy to navigate grid system make St. Pete the perfect spot for a bike share program. We would love to experience the Second Saturday Artwalk on two wheels. The popularity of Shine's biking mural tour last October represents the clear desire for a more bicycle friendly city.
Council members will meet again on April 21 to discuss the possibility of the program. Funding for the overall $1.5 million project could be divided equally between the Parking Revenue Fund, Transportation Impact Fees and the BP Settlement Funds.
For bicycle lovers hoping to take advantage of St. Pete's downtown area Open Streets St. Pete (Cyclovia) will be a glorious event. It takes place on Saturday, October 9 at noon around Mirror Lake Park. The event will open the surrounding roads between 1st and 3rd Avenues North and 3rd Street and Mirror Lake Drive North to cyclists and close them off to cars.
Follow the group on Facebook for updates on more cycle-centric events leading up to Open Streets.
Header image via SHINE St. Pete
Would you like to see a bike share program in the Burg? Let us know in a comment!
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