Oakland starts adaptive bike share pilot

Both Portland, OR and Detroit, MI have launched adaptive bike share pilot programs, and now Oakland has joined the list.

Streetsblog SF reports on the program, which launched just last weekend:

Available bikes include hand-pedal cycles, adaptive trikes, and a side-by-side tandem bike, according to a release from Berkeley-based BORP Adaptive Sports (BORP stands for Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program). Under the pilot, BORP is providing the bikes, the lifts, and assistance to riders.

The model of partnering with local organizations is similar to both Detroit and Portland, though the Oakland partnership will also include Lyft.

Marketing the availability of adaptive programs is an important step, which Detroit approached through surveys and focus groups. Portland conducted a study of their pilot as well, finding that the majority of riders were first time adaptive cycle users and that two-thirds of participants chose to ride in a group.

According to the Streetsblog article, Oakland’s pilot could be the first step to figuring out a long-term bike share accessibility option.

The Better Bike Share Partnership is funded by The JPB Foundation as a collaborative between the City of Philadelphia, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and the PeopleForBikes Foundation to build equitable and replicable bike share systems. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up for our weekly newsletter. Story tip? Write stefani@betterbikeshare.org.