Our Bike Sharing Future (Seattle Forward)

March 01, 2016

Our Bike Sharing Future

Update: I explain my "no" vote at the March 14 Full Council meeting in a separate post here.

Later today, I will vote “no” on legislation that would, if approved, have the city government purchase the insolvent Pronto bike sharing network and all of their bicycles, stations and equipment.

Instead, I will propose amended legislation that will position Seattle for a future bike sharing alternative that shifts most of the financial risk to a private partner. My legislation will:

Acknowledge that Pronto faces insolvency at the end of March.
Prohibit the City from investing in a failed enterprise which requires the City to carry ongoing financial risks by itself.
Allow a partial lifting of the proviso to repay, if necessary, the $1 million federal transportation grant the City must repay if bike sharing does not continue in some form.
Maintain the proviso on the balance of the funds, approximately $4 million, and reserves these funds “to support a future public-private partnership for bike share that does not rely on City of Seattle funding for operating revenue and jointly shares responsibility for capital expenses.”
Maintain the proviso until SDOT “provides a detailed MOA between the City and an outside partner . . . that demonstrates a substantial shift in financial risk to the City’s private partner . . .”
Shift the remaining funds to other “pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects” if a public-private partnership is not established by the end of 2016.

I believe this course is the most prudent, allows the City to quickly establish a better bike share system, and keeps some leverage for the City to influence and guide the public-private partnership into the future. Maintaining partial public ownership is preferable to an entirely privately-owned model because the City sometimes has policy goals – equity of access or distribution, for example – that may run counter to an enterprise focused more exclusively on profit.

The Council’s transportation committee meets at 2 p.m. today to vote on this issue.

Posted by Tim Burgess on March 01, 2016 at 11:35 AM in Budget and Finance, Transportation | Permalink

Comments

Update: I explain my "no" vote at the March 14 Full Council meeting in a separate post here.

Instead, I will propose amended legislation that will position Seattle for a future bike sharing alternative that shifts most of the financial risk to a private partner. My legislation will:

Acknowledge that Pronto faces insolvency at the end of March.
Prohibit the City from investing in a failed enterprise which requires the City to carry ongoing financial risks by itself.
Allow a partial lifting of the proviso to repay, if necessary, the $1 million federal transportation grant the City must repay if bike sharing does not continue in some form.
Maintain the proviso on the balance of the funds, approximately $4 million, and reserves these funds “to support a future public-private partnership for bike share that does not rely on City of Seattle funding for operating revenue and jointly shares responsibility for capital expenses.”
Maintain the proviso until SDOT “provides a detailed MOA between the City and an outside partner . . . that demonstrates a substantial shift in financial risk to the City’s private partner . . .”
Shift the remaining funds to other “pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects” if a public-private partnership is not established by the end of 2016.

The Council’s transportation committee meets at 2 p.m. today to vote on this issue.

Burgess Bookshelf

Snyder, Timothy: Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary
This book, along with Snyder's earlier, On Tyranny, is packed full of useful policy ideas that can help rebuild our country. Snyder's understanding of the rising threat of authoritarianism is exactly what needs to be understood today, coupled with his diagnosis of how we have failed to support all of the people of America.
Putnam, Robert D.: The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
Here's a hope filled historical review of how America has made itself more inclusive and equitable and can do it again. Very encouraging.
Sacks, Jonathan: Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
Rabbi Sacks' book is essential reading, in my opinion, especially now when freedom is under such attack. His wisdom fills every page, his defense of liberal democracy is compelling.
Epstein, David: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
This is a compelling and great read. I love it since I'm a generalist.
McCaulley, Esau: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
While the white Christian church, especially evangelicalism, was the dominant influence in my family of origin and my youth, I've learned so much more recently from the Black church. McCaulley's book is a very good introduction to Black theology and biblical interpretation.
Yglesias, Matthew: One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger
A critical thinker and blogger, Yglesias lays out a vision for America that is more inclusive and equitable; includes good sections on early learning and the crucial value of immigration.
Thomas E. Ricks: Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom
This book examines the lives and efforts of two men who never met each other but who helped save democracy leading up to and during World War II. Another much read for those who are worried about the American condition today.
Timothy Snyder: The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
From the author of "On Tyranny" comes another pithy look at how freedom and democracy can be destroyed from within.
Greg Weiner: American Burke: The Uncommon Liberalism of Daniel Patrick Moynihan (American Political Thought)
Fascinating account of the former New York Senator; good friend and colleague of our own Senator Henry Jackson.
Steven Levitsky & Daniel Liblatt: How Democracies Die
This is a must read for people concerned about the future of our democracy. One of their main points is that democracies begin to fail when the norms of civil discourse and the rule of law begin to crumble. We are seeing that happen before our very eyes today.