Politics & Government
Weho Considers Bike Sharing as L.A. Rolls Out Program
Companies have made proposals to start bike sharing in West Hollywood and other Westside cities.
As Los Angeles prepares to launch its first major bike share program, West Hollywood officials are considering proposals for similar initiatives aimed at reducing motor vehicle travel.
The West Hollywood Transportation Commission discussed the issue in June and August, documents show. Executives from Beverly Hills-based SoCal Cycle Share made a presentation to the commission and are in talks with city officials about a localized bike sharing program.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Bike Nation, the company at the helm of L.A.'s program slated to begin downtown in April, has submitted proposals to West Hollywood and Culver City.
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The Westside Cities Council of Governments—an advisory organization the includes West Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and L.A. County—has also been active on bike sharing.
Via the Westside council, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Culver City have been studying the possibility of a joint bicycle sharing program, according to a Beverly Hills city staff report.
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"For a bicycle sharing program, the average start-up cost is $46,000 per station," according to the staff report. "Annual operating costs are approximately $1,800 per bicycle plus management, promotion and administrative costs."
The report, which was presented to the Beverly Hills City Council in September, identifies grant funding, user fees, private or non-profit sponsorship and advertising revenue as funding sources.
A statement on Bike Nation's website lists fees associated with its Los Angeles program: a 24-hour membership is priced at $6 "with discounts for three-day ($12), weekly ($25), monthly ($35), yearly ($75) and yearly student/senior rentals ($50)."
Bike Nation is based in Tustin and currently operates a bike share system in Anaheim, the first in California. In 2013, the company will start programs in Fullerton and Long Beach in addition to Los Angeles.