Staff recommends that the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) approve the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study on the recommendations forwarded by the City-County Planning Board, City Council, and the Board of County Commissioners. 

The Billings-Yellowstone County Metropolitan Planning Organization (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, and convenient travel option for shorter trips. In a survey of 245 respondents completed as parts of this study, 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, if Billings were to implement such a program that it is most feasible as 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.
 

This study has been reviewed by the City-County Planning Board, the Billings City Council, and the Board of County Commissioners. The Planning Board held a public hearing prior to its recommendation of approval. Each governing body is forwarding a recommendation of approval to the PCC. Approval of this feasibility study does not require the governing body to implement this project.

The Policy Coordinating Committee may: 

• Approve the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study 
• Not approve the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study

Not approving the Billings Area Bike and Scooter Share Feasibility Study would be contrary to the recommendations of approval forwarded by the Planning Board, City Council, and the Board of County Commissioners. 

The contract for the Billings Area Bikeway and Scooter Share Feasibility Study with Alta Planning+Design was budgeted at $44,964. The majority of the funding is provided through the MPO's Federal PL (planning) funds. PL funds for this project required a 40% local match, which was provided through the Planning Division's approved budget. Implementing bike and/or scooter share is not included in this budget.