Resolution 2019-31105 RESOLUTION NO., 2019-31105
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS/COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AT ITS JULY 23, 2019 MEETING, AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND
DECO BIKE, L.L.C. (D/B/A CITIBIKE) FOR THE PROVISION OF A
DOCKED ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLE SHARING PILOT
PROGRAM, SUBJECT TO CITY COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF
THE FINAL AMENDMENT.
WHEREAS, in the last few years the popularity and use of electric-assisted bicycles
in the United States has grown, and more people are using electric-assisted bikes as a
more convenient means of active transportation; and
WHEREAS, since 2011, the City of Miami Beach has provided its residents and
visitors with a bicycle sharing service through a contract with Deco Bike, LLC (d/b/a
Citibike), which provides approximately 1,000 standard pedal-powered bicycles that can
be rented at stations (or "docks") strategically and conveniently located throughout the
City; and
WHEREAS, the City's current contract with Deco Bike already includes a provision
for use of alternative technologies as part of the current bicycle sharing program, at the
City's sole discretion; and
WHEREAS, at the October 17, 2018 City Commission meeting, the City
Commission referred a discussion item to the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs
Committee ("NCAC") regarding the potential of deploying a pilot program for an electric-
assisted bike sharing program; and -
WHEREAS, at its February 11, 2019 meeting, the Transportation, Parking and
Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee also discussed this item, and passed a motion
recommending that the City enter into negotiations with Deco Bike for an electric-assisted
bicycle sharing program; and
WHEREAS, at its July 23, 2019 meeting, the NCAC also passed a motion
recommending that the Administration negotiate an amendment to the City's existing
contract with Deco Bike for a pilot docked electric-assisted bicycle sharing program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Neighborhoods/Community
Affairs Committee, at its July 23, 2019 meeting, and authorize the City Manager to
negotiate an amendment to the contract between the City and Deco Bike, L.L.C. (D/B/A
Citibike) for the provision of a docked electric-assisted bicycle sharing pilot program,
subject to City Commission's approval of the final amendment.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 0/ day of De(emi! 2019
ATTEST: :'
Dan Gelbe or �—
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Rafael E. ranado, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
a R EXECUTION
ily Attorney Da
Resolutions - R7 B
MIAMI BEA H
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: December 11, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AT ITS
JULY 23, 2019 MEETING, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY
AND DECO BIKE, L.L.C. (D/B/A CITIBIKE) FOR THE PROVISION OF A
DOCKED ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLE SHARING PILOT PROGRAM,
SUBJECT TO CITY COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF THE FINAL
AMENDMENT.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and Commission adopt the resolution accepting
the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) to authorize
the City Manager to negotiate an amendment to the contract with Deco Bike for the provision of
a docked electric-assisted bicycle sharing pilot program and recommending that the City
Attorney's Office work on a prohibition on riding electric-assisted bicycles on sidewalks in the
City.
Should the City Commission approve the above recommendation, the Administration will work
with Citibike to develop a pilot program of suitable scale and scope and present a final
negotiated agreement to the City Commission for approval at a future meeting.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
Since 2011, the City has provided its residents and visitors with a bicycle sharing service
through a contract with Deco Bike (Citibike). As part of this contract, Citibike provides
approximately 1,000 bicycles which can be rented at any of its 100 stations or "docks"
strategically and conveniently located throughout the City. The contract also provides revenue
to the City through a revenue sharing agreement with Citibike. In FY 2017/18, the Citibike
revenue share to the City was $546,616.65. The net revenue to the City accounting for the loss
of on-street parking revenues, was $172,733.65. The City's contract with Citibike currently
provides for deployment of standard human-powered bicycles which require the user to pedal.
Citibike also provides docked bicycle sharing services for the City of Miami.
In the last few years, however, the popularity and use of electric-assisted bicycles in the U.S.
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has grown and more people are using electric-assisted bikes as a more convenient means of
active transportation. While no cities in Miami-Dade County are currently providing an electric-
assisted docked bicycle sharing services, the County has recently executed a contract with
"Ride On", a provider of electric-assisted docked bicycle sharing services. The contract
between Miami-Dade County and Ride On allows for the provision of electric-assisted bicycles
on County-owned facilities (such as transit stations, courts, libraries, etc.) and County rights-of-
way. While there are only a couple of County-owned facilities in Miami Beach, there are a few
roadways in the City which are under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County (i.e., Venetian
Causeway, Dade Boulevard, Pine Tree Drive, La Gorce Drive, and 23 Street). Thus, pursuant
to the County's contract with Ride-On, electric-assisted bicycles can be deployed by Ride-On
within the rights-of-way of the aforementioned streets in the City on an immediate basis.
This discussion item was referred at the October 17, 2018 City Commission meeting by
Commissioner Ricky Arriola to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC). At
the November 30, 2018 NCAC meeting, the Committee requested that the Administration
explore the potential of deploying a pilot program, possibly as a partnership between Citibike
and Ride On, and to research the potential use of the existing bike lanes in the City.
On February 11, 2019, the Transportation, Parking and Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee
discussed this item and passed the following motion: "The TPBPFC recommends that the City
enter into conversations with the existing company the City has for bicycle sharing (Citibike), as
they have provided good service throughout their contract with the City." This motion was
transmitted to the Mayor and City Commission via LTC #084-2019.
This item was subsequently discussed at the May 20, 2019 NCAC meeting. At the meeting, the
Administration recommended pursuing a pilot program in partnership with Citibike via an
amendment to the current agreement; however, the NCAC recommended that the
Administration come back to NCAC and present a vision and preliminary plan for an electric-
assist bicycle sharing pilot program, including the number of electric-assist bicycles to be
deployed and potential locations, gather research from independent organizations on the
effectiveness of electric-assisted bicycles, other cities' experiences with these devices
(including safety issues), and potential financial implications.
JULY 23. 2019 NCAC MEETING
At the meeting on July 23, 2019, City staff presented several options to the Committee, and
recommended competitive procurement as the preferred option. NCAC discussed this item,
including the advantages and disadvantages of a potential pilot program. The Committee
passed a motion by acclamation recommending that the Administration engage in a pilot
program for docked electric-assisted bicycle sharing in the City and amend the City's contract
with Citibike, which already includes a provision for additional services, to provide electric-
assisted/motorized bicycles on a pilot basis as part of Citibike's current bicycle sharing program;
and further recommending that the City Attorney's Office work on a prohibition on riding electric-
assisted bicycles on sidewalks in the City. Lastly, the Committee recommended that the
Administration determine an appropriate duration for the pilot program and take the item to the
City Commission for further consideration.
ANALYSIS
Over the past several months, City staff has met with both Citibike and Ride On representatives
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to gauge their interest in a joint electric-assisted bicycle pilot initiative using existing Citibike
docking stations in order to minimize or avoid the addition of new stations and potentially other
infrastructure in the City's right-of-way. Unfortunately, the two vendors have not been able to
reach a joint venture arrangement. The Administration also evaluated various procurement
options to engage a vendor for a docked electric-assisted bicycle sharing pilot program in the
City.
USE OF EXISTING BIKE LANES AND SIDEWALKS
The City Attorney's Office has researched this issue and opined that if a bicycle meets the
definition and statutory requirements established by state law (F.S. 316.003(4)) and City Code
(Chapter 70), it can be legally operated on existing on-street bike lanes, vehicular travel lanes,
and sidewalks (except those sidewalks on Ocean Drive located between South Pointe Drive
and 15th Street where bicycles are already prohibited by city ordinance). Electric-assisted
bicycles may meet the requirements of state and local laws as per below.
F.S. 316.003(4) defines a bicycle as follows: "Every vehicle propelled solely by human power,
and every motorized bicycle propelled by a combination of human power and an electric helper
motor capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of not more than 20 miles per hour on level
ground upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, and including any device
generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels. The term
does not include such a vehicle with a seat height of no more than 25 inches from the ground
when the seat is adjusted to its highest position or a scooter or similar device. A person under
the age of 16 may not operate or ride upon a motorized bicycle."
Both state law and Chapter 70 of the City Code have established a definition for motorized
bicycle which specifies that it shall have both functional pedals and an electric helper motor.
Both state law and the City Code further establish a maximum operating speed of 20 MPH for
such motorized bicycles.
State law allows local governments to enact regulations governing the operation of electric-
assisted bicycles on roads within their jurisdictions.
DECO BIKE CONTRACT
The City's current contract with Deco Bike includes a provision for use of alternative
technologies as part of the current bicycle sharing program at the City's sole discretion. The
existing contract provision reads as follows:
"Concessionaire and/or the City may desire to add new technologies or equipment
which may be developed in the future and are not contemplated under the
Agreement.
In the event Concessionaire determines new equipment or technology should be
used in the program, Concessionaire shall make a request, in writing, to the City
Manager which outlines the proposed new equipment or technologies and the
advantages resulting from their implementation. The City Manager shall use
reasonable efforts to approve or deny such request within thirty (30) days. In the
event such a request is denied, the City Manager shall provide a detailed
explanation stating why such changes to the program equipment or technology
should not be made.
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Concessionaire shall integrate any approved new equipment and/or technology at
Concessionaire's sole cost and responsibility and at no cost to the City."
A pilot program could potentially consist of approximately 50 to 100 electric-assisted bicycles
(i.e. 5% to 10% of the current Citibike inventory in the City) placed at several existing Citibike
docking locations throughout the City. Regulations could be placed as-part of the pilot program
to restrict the maximum speed at which the electric bicycles could operate as well as where they
could and could not operate in the City. An electronic user survey during the pilot program
would be valuable in ascertaining the type of trip taken (work, recreational, school, etc.) and if
that trip was previously taken using another mode (conventional bicycle, car, rideshare, transit,
other) as well as to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program in terms of providing a
viable first mile/last mile option and reducing vehicular trips in the City.
DOCKED VS DOCKLESS USAGE IN OTHER CITIES
According to the National Alliance of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), in general, cities
with robust docked bicycle sharing programs report higher daily ridership than cities with robust
dockless programs. Conversely, in smaller cities with small start-up programs, dockless
programs perform better than docked programs. Given the NACTO statistic and Miami Beach's
established and robust docked bicycle sharing program, we can surmise that our current Citibike
ridership is higher than what it would be as a dockless system. Pricing structures also play a
role in these ridership statistics as dockless programs generally have a higher fee than docked
programs.
CONCLUSION
The City is moving towards becoming a more bicycle-friendly city through the implementation of
various bicycle facilities and enhancements recommended in the adopted 2016 Transportation
Master Plan and Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan. Both master plans as well as the City's
adopted Modal Hierarchy, prioritize bicycles as a mode of transportation for residents and
visitors, particularly in terms of providing efficient first mile/last mile connections. Electric-
assisted bicycles could serve as a more convenient means of bicycle transportation for users as
compared to the standard pedal-power bicycles currently provided by Citibike.
Should the City Commission approve the recommendation of the NCAC to engage Citibike for
the provision of a docked electric-assisted bicycle sharing pilot program, the Administration will
work closely with Citibike in the coming weeks to tailor a pilot program of limited scope, scale,
and duration suitable for the City, including identifying locations where the electric-assisted
bicycles would be prohibited and determining a maximum operating speed for the bicycles.
The Administration will present a final negotiated agreement to the City Commission for
approval at a future meeting.
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a Resident Right to Does this item utilize G.O.
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Know item? Bond Funds?
No No
Strategic Connection
Mobility- Increase multi-modal mobility citywide and connectivity regionally.
Legislative Tracking
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor
Commissioner Ricky Arriola and Commissioner Michael Gongora
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
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