SoBi Hamilton supporters raise $40,000 in less than 24 hours in last-ditch effort to rescue bike share
Supporters are not going to let Hamilton's popular bike sharing network die without a fight.
Five hundred donors have pledged $40,000-and-counting in about 24 hours in a last-gasp effort to rescue the SoBi Hamilton bike network slated to shut down June 1. That includes a $1,000 donation from popular local rock group Arkells that supercharged the effort online.
An unnamed philanthropic group" has also reached out to downtown city councillor Jason Farr about the potential of a donation worth $100,000-plus - although he cautioned Friday there are no guarantees" in the early discussions.
Separately, IBI Group planner Scott Arbuckle said Friday he will work the phones" to gauge donation or sponsorship interest in the development and planning community if council agrees to a fundraising solution. We view (bike share) as an essential part of the urban fabric, of good city-building," he said. I'm quite sure others see it that way as well."
The non-profit group Hamilton Bike Share Inc. - which is willing to take over SoBi operations at least temporarily, if it can find a funder - kicked off the online fundraiser Thursday.
That was just hours after city council's divisive decision not to save a SoBi Hamilton network abruptly abandoned by its contracted operator, Uber. A pitch to use $400,000 in stopgap cash from infrastructure budgets in Ward 1, 2 and 3 ultimately failed on a rare 8-8 tie vote.
Most councillors who opposed the plan argued the city can't afford to spend bike rescue money in the face of a $60-million pandemic deficit.
The non-profit wrote to Uber on Thursday asking for the ride-hailing giant to voluntarily transfer SoBi operations and $50,000 a month in financial aid to the group.
If that doesn't happen, the group hopes to raise enough cash with its GoFundMe campaign to convince city council to keep the network alive until a new permanent operator can be found, said Chelsea Cox.
We really don't want to see a gap in service," said Cox, who was involved in the original group that ran the network for Social Bicycles in 2015. (After Uber bought Social Bicycles, it took operations in-house.)
Cox called the surge in fundraising support gratifying," adding businesses have also reached out about the prospect of sponsorships if the bike rental network survives. That's the sort of new revenue that could help make the program sustainable, she noted.
City staff have estimated it would take $700,000 annually for the city to take over and run the 900-bike network - but for around $400,000, a new operator could keep the wheels rolling until the end of the year.
That would give the city time to seek new, permanent operators without stopping service to the bike network's 26,500 users.
Farr cautioned any last-minute rescue plan faces procedural barriers" - including the fact council has already voted down the idea of transferring operations to the non-profit.
There is a lot to work out, but no one is giving up yet," said Farr, who added he expects to connect with prospective donors on the weekend.
The city owns the bikes and hubs for SoBi, but has never paid to run the system. A plan to remove and store the bikes - which could cost $130,000 - is expected to come to council Wednesday.
Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com