Challenge

In September 2010, the District of Columbia and Arlington County launched Capital Bikeshare as one of the first large-scale bikeshare systems in North America. Within 10 years of its launch, the system grew into one of the largest and most popular bikeshare programs in the nation. At the same time, the bikeshare industry has experienced tremendous change-over $2 billion in private capital has fueled the creation of new business models, technology, and competitors.

Solution

Kittelson, working with Foursquare ITP, led an update to the Capital Bikeshare Development Plan in the District. This included conducting a market study analyzing factors related to bikeshare and service area demographics in order to create a bikeshare propensity for DC and develop a plan that attracts users of all ages, races, incomes, and genders and reduces health disparities among communities. To support the market study, the Kittelson team reviewed dockless scooter and bike data to understand how new micromobility services have impacted Capital Bikeshare. The team also conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis that ties the market study findings back to Capital Bikeshare’s strategic goals and objectives to identify where the system is succeeding in effectively serving its markets and where it is under-performing.