Grand rapids bikeshare feasibility study

Grand Rapids Michigan bikeshare study demand heatmap

Sam Schwartz is working with the City of Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) to study the feasibility of bringing bikeshare to the City. The study is taking place at a time of tremendous change in bike share, as new technologies enable companies to offer smart bikes with more streamlined stations or forgo stations all together. Working with City staff, key stakeholders, and the community, Sam Schwartz has helped Grand Rapids understand its goals for bike share and evaluate how these new technologies impact them.

The study also evaluates the financial implications of different bike share models, the capital and maintenance funds Grand Rapids will need to operate a successful bike share system, and potential public and private sources of funding. In order to conduct a robust financial analysis, Sam Schwartz analyzed demographic, economic, and social equity factors to determine where bike share is most likely see significant usage and built a predictive ridership model based on data from peer cities.

Sam Schwartz’s engagement plan includes eight focus groups co-hosted with community organizations (and conducted in both English and Spanish) to better understand African American and Hispanic residents’ perspectives towards bike share. The insights from these focus groups will help to design a system from which all residents benefit.