
Shared Mobility Options in Portland Part 1: Micromobility
As an avid user of Portland’s constantly changing shared mobility ecosystem, I am going to be highlighting the history & pricing of Micromobility, CarShare, Public Transportation, RideHailing [RideSourcing], and RideShare [Carpooling] in Portland. The combination of all these options gives you the flexibility to leave your car at home without feeling stuck in the city without your car!
Micromobility is defined as a transportation device that weighs less than 500kg, is generally electric, and focused on urban transportation. Portland was recently ranked as one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. that could benefit from micromobility solutions because 51% of trips are under 3 miles. We have two different types of micromobility systems that are shared by members: BikeShare and Scooter Share.
BikeShare 🚲
The first BikeShare in Portland was a free community system which started in 1994 under the name Yellow Bike Project. The system reached approximently 60 bicycles at its peak but ended due to theft and vandilism.
In 2016, the first station based BikeShare, Biketown, launched with their orange Nike branded bikes you see on the street today. There are four different membership plans: pay as you go for $0.08 a minute (plus a $5.00 initial membership fee), a month-to-month for $19.00, and an annual membership for $99.00 a year. With the month-to-month and annual plan you can ride for 90 minutes per day and afterwards you will be charged the minute rate. Biketown For All provides Portlanders living on low incomes with a discounted monthly membership for $3.00 a month.
Currently there are 1,000 vehicles in the fleet and 125 stations where users can lock up at. Although you will save money ending at a station, it is not required since each bike is equipped with a U-Lock. There is a $2.00 fee for ending at a public rack within the operating area ($0.00 if you’re an annual member) and a $10.00 fee for ending at a public rack outside of the operating area.
Click here to view a live map of the Biketown system including available bikes, station locations, and the operating zone.
Scooter Share 🛴
Scooters are my favorite way to get around Portland and first hit the streets of Portland in 2018. It typically costs $1 to unlock a scooter, $0.25 — $0.35 a minute to ride, and then there is a $0.25 tax applied to each ride. As part of the 2019–20 E-Scooter Pilot Program, PBOT requires scooter vendors to offer discounted pricing for Portlanders who are living on low-incomes.
The scooters are free-floating (dockless) and can be found in the vendor’s operating zone. You can locate a scooter through the vendors app, the Transit App, or if you find one on the street just scan the QR code with the vendors app. Some vendors also offer the ability to start scooter rentals through a text message if you do not have a smartphone device. When ending your scooter rental find a place on the sidewalk (prferably at or near a bike rack) and be sure you aren’t blocking any pathways.
If you haven’t had a chance to ride one or need a reminder… Here are the rules of the road:
- No sidewalk riding: Using an electric scooter on the sidewalk and in crosswalks is prohibited. People using electric scooters are allowed on Portland city streets, multi-use paths and in bike lanes.
- Helmets are required: People using electric scooters are required to wear a bicycle helmet.
- Minimum age: Youth under age 16 are prohibited from riding electric scooters.
- Yield to pedestrians: People using an electric scooter are required to yield to pedestrians.
- No riding in Portland Parks: Motorized wheeled devices are prohibited in Parks, except on Park roads, or in designated vehicle parking areas, or by permit. Multi-use Paths in Portland Parks include: Waterfront River Trail, Eastbank Esplanade, Springwater Corridor.
Check out the PBOT’s Portland by Scooter Map for the safest scooter routes. If you’re on the fly I recommend using Google Maps’ bike directions to find the safest route.
Next week I will be covering CarShare 🚙 options in Portland.
Connect with me on Twitter @Heinomite and Linkedin to continue the conversation!
Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.
