Back Hamilton Bike Share with city dollars, cycling enthusiasts tell council
Cycling enthusiasts are encouraging council to steady Hamilton's wobbly bike-share program with city dollars.
The network should receive government funding for capital and operating costs like other modes of public transportation, Elise Desjardins says.
The bike-share program helps the Ward 1 resident keep cycling through winter, she said, noting she lives in an apartment, which makes cleaning and maintaining a mucky bike tricky.
The non-profit-operated network also offers subsidized rates to lower-income residents through its Everyone Rides initiative, says Desjardins, who focused on cycling for her master's degree at McMaster.
The system is an important public good for the City of Hamilton," she told councillors during a budget session Monday.
Desjardins joined others in urging council to back a city staff recommendation to dedicate just under $600,000 a year in funding for a network of 900 bikes.
Staff propose $302,400 for operations, $54,000 for Everyone Rides, $130,000 for web-related software fees and $108,000 a year for a capital reserve.
As it stands, the city doesn't contribute any operating dollars to the network, but, if backed by council, the proposed model would see operations split roughly 50/50 with the non-profit.
Hamilton Bike Share Inc. - which has relied on corporate and community support to keep the bikes on the road - would cover its half through revenues and grants.
Since its launch in 2015, the network has grown to 825 bikes and 130 hubs throughout Hamilton, notes a staff report going before councillors Thursday. Users have taken more than 1.98 million trips.
The recommended partnership model springs from Mayor Fred Eisenberger's motion in November that asked staff to come up with a sustainable option to shore up the deflated bike-share program.
In June 2020, the former SoBi network reached a major fork in the road when its Uber-owned operator ditched its contract.
City politicians rejected using $400,000 in ward funds to tide the bike-share program over until a new operator could be found, with some arguing council promised residents the initiative wouldn't affect the tax levy.
Buoyed by local donors, Hamilton Bike Share Inc. stepped into the void as the interim operator and this past July announced a sponsorship deal with Cogeco Connexion.
Student pay, housing also on the agenda
During Monday's budget session - the second dedicated to public feedback for the city's overall spending plan in 2022 - council also heard calls to increase the pay for summer students.
Your wages are undervaluing their work," said Anthony Marco, president of the Hamilton and District Labour Council.
Marco urged the city to increase pay for summer positions to at least $17.20 an hour, considered a living wage" in Hamilton, up from $15 an hour, which is Ontario's new minimum wage.
I do think it is something that we do need to take an honest, sober look at," Coun. Nrinder Nann said.
Advocates also urged council to put more resources toward tackling the city's twin housing and homelessness crises.
Joanna Aitcheson, a volunteer with the Hamilton Encampment Support Network, recounted how she has tried to help freezing people navigate their way to warming centres this winter.
Your decision with this budget can mean life or death for people ... and I am begging you to please budget accordingly."
Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com