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(Images: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

A report launched at the moment by Lyft (the operator of Biketown and different shared micromobility techniques throughout the nation) reveals there’s been a increase in shared scooter and bike techniques in Portland and in different cities nationwide — and the individuals driving this wave are more and more extra various.

“Lyft bikeshare members rely closely on public transit and greater than two-thirds don’t personal or lease a private automobile.”
— from the report

In line with the 2022 Lyft Multimodal Report, over 37,000 new riders tried Biketown in 2021. And in response to knowledge we have already got for 2022, this quantity is more likely to be even larger on subsequent 12 months’s report: PBOT shared there was a 112% improve in Biketown ridership from January 1 – February 1 of this 12 months in comparison with the identical interval in 2021. And simply final weekend, when Biketown went fee-free for 3 days to have fun Earth Day, the bike share service set a brand new in the future journey document of 3269, which is nearly 1000 extra rides than the 2021 in the future journey document of 2465.

What accounts for the micromobility enthusiasm? For one, these companies have matured. They’re extra accessible and the world they cowl is bigger. Biketown went electrical close to the tip of 2020, rising its service space by 50% on the similar time, which was a game-changer.

We not too long ago shared some issues individuals working with shared micromobility in Portland are doing to make companies like Biketown and e-scooters extra accessible, and from the information, the outcomes of their efforts look promising. Throughout the nation, rides in low-income areas elevated by 65% since 2020, a transfer attributed partly to broader protection.

The 2 graphics beneath present stats from the Lyft report:

The Lyft report additionally confirmed that of all Portlanders who used Biketown in 2021, 43% determine as members of racial and/or ethnic minority teams. 16% of them recognized as Black, African
American, or Afro-Caribbean. That’s a a lot totally different image than Portland as an entire the place the inhabitants is about 77% white and solely about 6% Black.

Scooting in Waterfront Park.

All of this new ridership means journey behaviors have shifted, too: a considerable quantity of individuals are reporting Biketown is making them suppose twice about driving a automotive. Lyft studies 28% of people that have entry to a automotive drove it much less due to entry to Biketown.

The Lyft report additionally presents recommendation for what cities can do to proceed to see much more progress in shared bike and scooter utilization. They recommend cities construct extra protected infrastructure, set up extra stations to enhance reliability and entry, electrify stations so the units can cost on their very own and proceed to discover how public-private partnerships (just like the one between PBOT and Lyft) can improve these packages.

One other key takeaway of this report is how our transit techniques play a key position. “Findings from the 2022 Lyft Multimodal Report proceed to underscore the vital relationship between micromobility and public transit. Lyft bikeshare members rely closely on public transit and greater than two-thirds don’t personal or lease a private automobile,” the report states.

As these techniques mature and develop into part of our transportation basis, this report underscores their worth much more and validates calls from advocates to broaden and enhance them with funding past non-public sponsorship {dollars}. Try the total report right here and the Biketown complement right here.