CLINTON, Iowa – The MyBike Share program run by Grow Clinton’s Department of Placemaking & Tourism in this community has been discontinued.
While the program allowed residents and visitors to explore the city’s 12-mile network of bike lanes and riverfront trails via bikes rented through a smartphone app, it consistently operated at a financial loss, according to a news release from Grow Clinton this week.
On average, the program generated approximately $350 in revenue per year. However, annual expenses, including the software license used to accept payments, track bikes via GPS, and operate the locks, totaled about $15,000, with about $5,000 allocated to routine maintenance and repairs.
Since its September 2017 launch, MyBike Share has been viewed as a community amenity that connects health and wellness with placemaking. Riders could lock and unlock bikes through a third-party application and navigate scenic trails along the Mississippi River.
Grow Clinton anticipated that expenses would exceed revenues and budgeted accordingly; however, as a member-supported nonprofit, the organization can no longer justify subsidizing the program at such a high rate, the release said. As a result, the program has been terminated so that resources can be redirected toward initiatives with a more substantial return on investment, Grow Clinton leaders said.
Grow Clinton now owns 21 bicycles, multiple docking stations, and programmable locks. There is no debt associated with the equipment, and the organization is seeking a partner, such as a business or agency, to leverage the bikes and stations and explore a more cost-effective, self-sustaining model. Potential partners might consider alternative technology solutions that offer location tracking and lock control at a lower cost.
Individuals or groups interested in discussing the program’s history and exploring a new venture are encouraged to contact Grow Clinton’s leadership team.
For more information, call (563) 242-5702 or email Andy Sokolovich at [email protected].
