Department of Transportation Studies Range of ‘Shared Mobility’ Options for Pasadena

Pasadena’s Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to study potential shared mobility options for the City of Pasadena. It has yet to determine if it will recommend bicycles or electric scooters for the program.

During the meeting of the Municipal Services Committee on Tuesday, Joaquin Siques, deputy director at DOT, reported the department will issue a Request for Information (RFI) by December 2022 to answer key questions and determine the viability of an independent shared mobility program in comparison to other regional bike share programs sponsored by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG). 

“The RFI will provide information to allow staff to address some of the challenges that have been identified, identify potential operating costs and staffing needs, identify preferred mode either bike or scooter, if any and determine if the city should operate an independent shared bike program or rejoin Metro’s program,” Siques said.

Shared mobility is a mode of transportation typically involving e-scooters, e-bikes, bicycles and other transportation devices that provides customers the ability to pick-up a device from one location and leave it at another in the form of a short-term rental.

In July 2017, a Metro Bike Share pilot program was launched in Pasadena. The program, however, was terminated in 2018 because of the low ridership which translated to low revenues and mounting losses for the City.

Through the life of the program in the city, monthly ridership averaged between 0.2 to 0.4 rides per bike per day for each of the roughly 275 to 300 bikes in 31 docked stations, according to the transportation department. 

Siques said the department intends to return to the City Council in the summer 2023 with a recommendation regarding the shared mobility program.