Bikeshare Pilot In Kirkland Approved By Council

KIRKLAND, WA - The Kirkland City Council has approved a plan to bring between 100 and 200 bikeshare bikes to the city for a year-long pilot program. Once bikes come to Kirkland, city staff will monitor their use and decide whether to keep them.

Kirkland began looking into bringing bikeshare bikes to the city last summer. In late February, a survey of city residents showed that a majority of local residents are in favor of them.

The City Council's vote this week allows the city to create a special permit for bikeshare companies. That could be done as soon as April, and bikes might be available by May. Lime and Bird, a scooter provider, have already expressed interest, city spokeswoman Kellie Stickney said.

Kirkland has reached out to ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber - both recently launched bikeshare programs. Ofo had reached out to Kirkland last year, but that bikeshare company is now experiencing financial trouble.

(You might see bikeshare bikes in Kirkland today, but those filtered in from other cities with bikeshare programs.)

Under the pilot, Kirkland will designate specific areas where bikes can be parked, which will generally be on public property and along the Cross-Kirkland Corridor. Bikeshare companies would be responsible for moving bikes that are parked improperly, and the city could charge $127 if city staff have to move bikes.

The pilot program does not include electric scooters, but city staff will accept proposals from scooter companies after the bike pilot is in place. Scooters are a little more controversial than bikes because they are perceived as a higher safety risk. Last fall, Seattle enacted a ban on electric scooters. At almost the same time, Tacoma decided to allow electric scooters.

Right now, only Lime (the green ones) and Uber's JUMP! (the red ones) bikes are available to rent. Two other bikeshare companies, Ofo and Spin, have pulled out of the Puget Sound market.