REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: April 30th, 2018 Report No. CSS-18-008
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
U-Bicycle North America
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approves a one year trial to allow U-Bicycle North America to display and store bicycles for rent on Township property subject to conditions as directed by Council.
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RELEVANT POLICY:
Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2013, No. 2810
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Ensure multi-modal traffic strategies consider and reflect business and residential growth and development.
BACKGROUND:
In September of 2017 U-Bicycle reached an agreement with the City of Victoria to launch U-Bicycle bicycle rental services in the City of Victoria for a one year trial period. U-Bicycle and the City of Victoria agreed to numerous conditions relating to U-Bicycle's operations.
At the March 19th, 2018 Council meeting, Mr. Raviv Litman, Operations Manager (Victoria, BC), made a presentation to Council about U-Bicycle's operations and interest in expanding their services to include bicycles available for rent in Esquimalt. Council directed staff to prepare a report.
On April 19th, 2018 a meeting was held with Municipal staff and U-Bicycle representatives to discuss the potential for U-Bicycle to expand their business into Esquimalt.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
U-Bicycle is seeking to place up to 35 bicycles in strategic locations throughout Esquimalt.
A meeting with the Directors of Parks and Recreation and Engineering and Public Works was conducted in which concerns were raised regarding where bikes might be left by patrons. Concerns were raised about bikes being left on right of ways, either streets or sidewalks, and also bikes being left in public spaces like parks which could contribute to issues of unsightliness. Additionally, Esquimalt bylaws do not allow for privately owned i...
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