METRO BIKE SHARE COMES TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES
11 New Bike Share Stations Planned Along the LA Waterfront Expected to Attract More Than 40,000 Riders Per Year
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Oct. 25, 2016 – Getting from place to place along the LA Waterfront is about to get a little easier – and a lot more fun.
The Port of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), has been given the green light by the LA Board of Harbor Commissioners to expand the Metro Bike Share program to the 12-mile LA Waterfront by next summer. The vote clears the way for consideration by the LA County Metro Board, which is expected to vote on the proposal soon.
“Bike Share at the Port of Los Angeles will offer a new, fun and environmentally friendly way to explore and experience the LA Waterfront and its many attractions,” said Doane Liu, deputy executive director at the Port of Los Angeles. “This new program will provide another transportation option for residents and visitors to consider, which will have the added benefit of reducing local traffic and parking congestion too.”
The LA Waterfront Bike Share will include 11 stations to start, eight in San Pedro and three in Wilmington, with approximately 10 shareable bikes per station. Payment kiosks at each station will allow riders to use either their Metro TAP card or credit card to pay, with costs varying depending on the option selected.
Proposed station stops will include:
- Fanfare Fountains at Gateway Plaza / World Cruise Center
- Catalina Sea and Air Terminal
- Battleship IOWA
- Downtown Harbor
- CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles
- Ports O’ Call Village (future San Pedro Public Market)
- DoubleTree Hotel San Pedro
- Cabrillo Beach
- Wilmington Waterfront Park – West
- Wilmington Waterfront Park – East
- Banning’s Landing Community Center
The Metro Bike Share program was officially rolled out in downtown Los Angeles by Mayor Eric Garcetti this past July, a launch that included nearly 65 stations and 1,000 bikes. The program is designed to improve mobility and access for residents and visitors via shared-use bikes and docking stations located in key locations with easy access traveling from one location to another.
Bike Share also links to Metro’s regional transportation system of buses, subways and light rails. Metro hopes to expand Bike Share to nine total regions, including the LA Waterfront, building up to an inventory of more than 4,000 bikes.
Metro and the Port will equally split the capital costs to create the new Bike Share infrastructure along the LA Waterfront, with the Port additionally covering 65% of the ongoing operation and maintenance for the new Port Bike Share locations. Port costs will be funded primarily by its Public Access Investment Fund.
The new Bike Share program is one of several alternative transportation options being developed along the LA Waterfront. The San Pedro Business Improvement District doubled the number of rubber-tire trolley cars this summer, which allows it to cover more stops and routes, and is expected to increase ridership. In addition, developers of the approved San Pedro Public Market recently announced plans to include a mobile Red Trolley Car replica as part of the new development.
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovatively strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life. North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $270 billion in trade during 2015. Port operations and commerce facilitate more than 133,000 jobs (about one in 14) in the City of Los Angeles and 479,000 jobs (or one in 18) in the five-county Southern California region. The San Pedro Bay Ports support nearly 1 million California jobs and 2.8 million nationwide.