City closer to providing sustainable funding for Hamilton bike share program

Hamilton's general issues committee gave the thumb up to a funding proposal that could run until 2025.

Hamilton’s bike share program received a big boost after a number of city councillors voted in favour of essentially adding it to the public transportation portfolio.

The 10-to-2 favourable vote during the general issues committee on Friday means the program could potentially receive annual contributions from the city, pending a council vote.

“Aside from the convenience and health benefits for users, it can mean fewer motorized vehicles on our roads which eases congestion and road maintenance costs as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to global warming,” Mayor Fred Eisenberger said in a statement.

A thumbs up was also given to operate the system in 2022 through city funding after councillors passed a motion revising operating costs. That motion is also subject to further approval.

Previously, city staff pegged the cash needed for the current year at $600,000 in combined operating, accessibly, network and reserve funding.

The numbers for 2022 will now see the city put down around $324,000 for 8 months of operation with about $200,000 in operating costs, $36,000 for accessible bikes, $87,000 for Mobility Cloud network access.

The change knocks the city’s contributions per bike down to $28 compared to the $55 stated in the previous staff rundown.

However starting in 2023, the city’s commitment would move back to the previously assessed totals of $302,400 in operating costs, $54,000 for accessible bikes, $130,000 for connectivity to a mobile network and another $108,000 to build a bike-share capital reserve until 2025 when the agreement is set to end.