AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration of Adding Bicycle Racks on Buses
DATE: March 26, 2001
This memorandum reviews the status of the Chapel Hill Transit Bikes on Buses program and responds to a request from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board to install bicycle racks on all Chapel Hill Transit buses.
The attached resolution directs the Town Manager to have bicycle racks installed on the Chapel Hill Transit Fleet and requires bicycle racks to be included as part of the purchase of additional buses.
In April 1998, the Town Council considered the feasibility of installing bicycle racks on Chapel Hill Transit buses. At that time the Council agreed to initiate a pilot program on selected transit routes and authorized the installation of bicycle racks on 7 Chapel Hill Transit buses. On November 13, 2000 the Council received a report with recommendations for allocating Sidewalk and Bicycle Capital Improvements Program funds and in this report we recommended the Council consider allocating $30,000 of Transportation Funds to install additional bicycle racks on Chapel Hill Transit buses. As part of its review of sidewalk and bicycle projects the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board proposed that the Town allocate $30,000 to install bicycle racks on the remaining Chapel Hill Transit buses. The Transportation Board has since adopted a recommendation urging the Council to delay the installation of bicycle racks until maintenance problems have been resolved. (Attachment 1)
Since their installation in 1998 the bicycle racks have been used on Chapel Hill Transit T and F routes, which run north/south and east/west respectively and involve long trip lengths. Overall usage of the bicycle racks on these routes has been light but constant, 5-10 bicycles per day. Patrons seem able to easily operate the bicycle racks, resulting in no reports of schedule delays for buses that have had bicycle use.
In the course of providing bicycle racks on the T and F routes, Chapel Hill Transit has identified maintenance and possible operational problems. There were problems in maintaining the racks, particularly when the buses were washed. Initially, several of the bicycle racks were bent by the automatic bus washer and required repairs. The automated washer has since been adjusted and this is no longer an issue.
As was pointed out in the 1998 Budget Working Paper, some Chapel Hill Transit routes operate in areas with very tight turning radii, which may not easily accommodate the use of bicycle racks. Use of bicycle racks on the T and F routes has confirmed that the bicycle racks, particularly when they are in use, can make transit operations more difficult as the extended bicycle rack adds 2 feet to the front of the bus.
We believe that the maintenance problems have been relatively minor and that as drivers become better accustomed to having the racks on the buses any operational problems can be resolved. We believe that installing bicycle racks on the entire Chapel Hill Transit bus fleet would promote greater bicycle and transit use and should be implemented.
We propose that additional bicycle racks be purchased and installed on all Chapel Hill Transit buses. We note that Chapel Hill Transit is scheduled to replace 14 buses in 2002. We suggest that bicycle racks not be installed on the buses that are about to be retired; but that the replacement buses and any additional buses purchased for service expansion be equipped with bicycle racks.
We anticipate that bike racks would be delivered within 4 weeks of placing the order and could be completely installed within 3 months.
We would continue to monitor usage of the bicycle racks and any operational problems encountered, particularly on routes that operate in the Town Center and University, where turning radii are limited.
We will need to purchase 34 bike racks to fit all but the soon to be retired buses, at a cost of $618.00 each, for a total cost of $21,000. We have a revised and approved existing Federal grant that will fund $16,800 (80%) of the cost. The State match on this grant would be $2,100. The local funds required would be $2,100 and are currently available in the transportation capital reserve fund.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the resolution directing the Manager to have bicycle racks installed on the Chapel Hill Transit bus fleet.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Transportation Board Recommendation (p. 4).
2. Chapel Hill Transit Bike on Bus Brochure (p. 5).
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO HAVE BICYCLE RACKS INSTALLED ON THE CHAPEL HILL TRANSIT BUS FLEET AND REQUIRE BICYCLE RACKS AS PART OF THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES (2001-03-26/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council has determined that the availability of bicycle racks on Chapel Hill Transit buses may increase bicycle usage in the community and promote alternative modes of transportation; and
WHEREAS, Chapel Hill Transit has implemented a limited Bikes on Buses program;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOVED, by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is directed to purchase and install bicycle racks on all buses within the Chapel Hill Transit bus fleet;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that those buses to be replaced in 2002 not be outfitted with bicycle racks but that the replacement vehicles and all new buses purchased be equipped with bicycle racks.
This the 26th day of March 2001.