Member Spotlight: Town of Breckenridge
The Town of Breckenridge, Colorado is located 9,603 feet above sea level in a U-shaped valley on the western slope of the Continental Divide in the United States. There are 5.3 square miles within the town’s boundary. Although the town is home to a permanent population of around just 5,000 residents, the peak population that includes day visitors, overnight guests, and second homeowners, is estimated to exceed 39,000 on a busy day.
With ambitious sustainability goals to reduce emissions and expand transportation options, the Town received grant funding in 2021 to conduct an e-bikeshare feasibility study. After a public engagement process with the community, the study recommended the Town move forward with implementation of a seasonal program running May 1-Oct 31, and Breck E-Ride was born. At the end of the 2023 pilot season, 19,574 trips had been made, and survey data collected from users indicated that 58% of trips replaced ones that users would have otherwise used a private vehicle.
It is important for the Town Council that the Town’s bikeshare program not compete with existing local bike rental shops. The Town and the bikeshare operator, Drop Mobility, worked together to develop a pricing structure that incentivized shorter trips for transportation, while still referring users seeking longer recreational rides to the local rental shops. Hub placement was prioritized in local workforce housing neighborhoods throughout the community, and membership options were developed to make the program affordable for daily use by locals.
For the 2024 season, the Town was able to expand its initial fleet from 75 to 125 e-bikes, along with adding several new hub locations. The program also expanded its operations team and procured an electric E-Transit van to be used for daily battery swaps, bike maintenance, and rebalancing, furthering the program’s GHG-reduction impact. Community members were happy to see the program return this year, and the program has seen strong ridership in the first 7-weeks of the season.
When asked about the value of NABSA membership, they said that NABSA has been a fantastic resource for understanding the many nuances to the micromobility industry, and connecting with others for help when issues or questions arise. Additionally they said that they value the advocacy work NABSA does to raise awareness of the many benefits bikeshare provides as a legitimate mode of public transportation.
To learn more about Breck E-Ride visit https://breckeride.com/.
