Bike Share Program - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bike Share Program?
A bike share program is a service in which bicycles are available for shared use to individuals for a fee.
Are Bike Share vendors regulated in the City of Phoenix?
Yes, Bike Share vendors must apply for a permit to operate within the City of Phoenix. This permitting process requires vendors to provide insurance, security bond, safety awareness to its users and must follow all local, state and federal laws.
Is there a limit to the amount of bikes the bike share vendors are allowed to operate in the City of Phoenix? Why are there so many bikes?
Yes, currently the City of Phoenix is permitting a maximum of 500 bikes per Bike Share vendor.
Who maintains the bikes if something goes wrong or are stolen?
Each Bike Share company is responsible for operation and repair of their own fleet. Bikes are equipped with an electro-mechanical lock that discourages theft. GPS tracking is used by each company to know the location of each bike in their fleet.
What are the prohibited parking areas?
• Parking at sidewalk corners is prohibited.
• Parking in a vehicular travel lane or bicycle lane.
• Parking on blocks where the pedestrian path is less than four feet wide, or an amenity zone directly adjacent to the parked bicycle.
• Parking in the pedestrian zone adjacent to or within:
a. Parklets or sidewalk dining;
b. Transit zones, including bus stops, shelters, passenger waiting areas and bus layover and staging zones, except at existing bicycle racks;
c. Loading zones;
d. Accessible parking zones and associated loading zones;
e. Street furniture that requires pedestrian access (for example - benches, parking pay stations, bus shelters, transit information signs, etc.);
f. Curb ramps;
g. Entryways, exits and must maintain a 10-foot clearance;
h. Greenways, shared use paths, multiuse trails, rail trails; and driveways.
What should I do if a bike is abandoned or left parked for more than 48 hours?
As Bike Share vendors are private businesses, residents concerned with bikes that have been abandoned or left parked for more than 48 hours should contact the specific bike share vendor and request them moved. (See the extensive list of permitted bike share vendors within the City of Phoenix to the right of the page.)
What should I do if a bike is parked illegally or blocking a sidewalk?
Bike share users are responsible for leaving their bikes in a safe location each time they finish their trip. If this does not happen, residents should contact the specific bike share vendors and request the bikes be moved.
Bike share vendors are required to respond to urgent calls such as bikes blocking a sidewalk, illegally parked, or left in the City right-of-way within 2 hours.
How can business or property owners work with the bike share vendors to identify safe bike parking locations?
Businesses and property owners are encouraged to contact the bike vendors directly and request additions or removals of safe places for bikes to be parked.
