The Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is presenting the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) with the intent to have the TAC make a recommendation to the three local governing bodies: Yellowstone County Board of Planning, City Council, and the Board of County Commissioners with the intent to forward a positive recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC). The MPO hired Alta Planning + Design through a competitive process to develop the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study.

The MPO hired Alta Planning + Design through a competitive process to conduct the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study. The goal of the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study is to define what a successful bike and scooter share program would look like for the Billings area. A bike and/or scooter share system is a network of shared bicycles or scooters available for short-term use, usually 15 to 45-minute trips. A user can check out a bicycle or scooter from locations around the city, ride to their destination, and then leave the bicycle or scooter for someone else to use. Bike share and scooter share programs are designed to be a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, convenient travel option for shorter trips.

In a survey with 245 respondents, 53% of people said they are interested in seeing bike and scooter share in Billings, 24% are not interested, and 14% need more information. Of the remaining percentage that selected "other," many respondents reported liking the idea of bike share, but not scooter share. Top concerns related to bike and scooter share include safety, lack of bicycle infrastructure, and vandalism. Most Billings community members want to access downtown, parks, and restaurant/coffee shops by bike or scooter share. 

The study recommends Billings implement a hybrid bike share system where the bike/scooter houses the transaction rather than at a station. Stations, also called hubs, consist of branded racks for parking bike share bikes. Though stations are available, the program does not require that a bike be left at a station and it is permitted to be parked anywhere within the service area. The study also recommends using electric-assist or e-bikes to make trips easier for people of all abilities. 

For a system governance model, the study recommends implementing a turnkey bike share system or a publicly owned and privately operated system. In a turnkey system, the City would hire an experienced company that owns and operates the system. The City would rent equipment and contract with the company for the full range of operations support, including installation, operations, sponsorship, customer service, and maintenance. Alternatively, Billings could purchase the bike share fleet and hub infrastructure and contract with a third party to operate the system. 

During the system launch, the study suggests launching in an initial service area including downtown and MSU Billings, creating an equity program, and establishing strategic partnerships to ensure the success of the system. 
 

The contract for the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study was budgeted at $44,964. The majority of the funding is through the MPO’s Federal PL (planning) funds. PL funds for this project required 13.42% local match, which was provided through the Planning Division’s FY21 Budget utilizing its County-Wide Planning Mill Levy revenues. Implementing bike and/or scooter share in Billings is not included in this budget. 

Staff is requesting TAC forward a recommendation of approval of the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study to the Yellowstone County Board of Planning, Billings City Council, and the Yellowstone Board of County Commissioners with the intent to forward a positive recommendation to the PCC.