More than 2,000 people traveled a total of more than 14,000 miles through the Grid Bike Share program since it launched in November, according to the program’s first-quarter report released on March 10.
In its first three months, the Grid Bike Share system registered 2,250 members, who made 11,000 trips with a total of approximately 14,075 miles traveled, according to the Phoenix Street Transportation Department.
“We expected success, but the amount of ridership and the amount of use succeeded our expectations,” Grid Bike Share Operations Manager Giovanni Arico said.
Arico said he attributes the success to the great weather, the high number of cyclists in Phoenix, a lot of press buildup and the support of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and his staff.
“I think a lot of people were kind of hungry for a bike share program,” he said.
Grid Bike Share currently has 37 stations and more than 300 bikes, and is making its way to 500 bikes and 50 stations, Arico said.
The program lets riders track usage time, mileage, carbon offset, calories burned and gas savings. During this three-month period, 11,700 pounds of carbon were offset and riders in total burned 530,100 calories.
Phoenix Councilman Bill Gates, a member of the city Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, said he thinks the program was launched at a good time.
“What a great time to roll it out right before the Super Bowl,” Gates said. “There was a very high rate of usage during the Super Bowl and since then.”
According to the Phoenix street transportation department report, the largest increase in trips occurred over Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day weekends.
Brad Moore, co-owner of Short Leash Hot Dogs and Rollover Doughnuts, said he sees people riding the Grid bikes all the time and utilizing the bike hub on Central and Vernon avenues near Rollover. He said he is impressed at how much they are being used.
“I think it’s a benefit to the entire community,” Moore said. “(It’s) making Phoenix more pedestrian-friendly, more bike-friendly, and it’s giving a better sense of community than we already have. I think it’s been an awesome addition to neighborhoods.”
Lance Walker, the manager at the Phoenix Public Market Cafe, also said he sees a few customers a day riding the bright green bikes, but he said changes in the weather could affect the number of people who use the bikes regularly.
“(The program) faces a lot of challenges here in summer, (as it) gets to 120 degrees,” Walker said. “A bike isn’t really the best way to get around.”
Grid Bike Share is planning to sponsor night rides to keep ridership up during the summer, Arico said. He said the material used for the bicycles’ grips and seat does not capture nor hold a lot of heat.
Gates said he recommends giving a discount and increasing publicity to ensure summer success.
“I think they need to come up with some creative way to maintain that interest,” Gates said.
The program is also planning for the future. Arico said they have received requests from members for the development of different bike styles, such as road bikes and trikes.
“Our partner has been looking at possible ways to adapt technology from the two-wheel bicycle maybe to another style bicycle,” he said. “That may be in the far future.”
Contact the reporter at Hbosselm@asu.edu
