Hoboken Covered Bike Parking
Request for Information
Issued October 7, 2024
Responses due by October 25, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST
Hoboken Covered Bike Parking Request for Information
Issue Date: October 7, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
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HOW TO ANSWER THIS
RFI.................................................................................................
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SYSTEM DETAILS
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PARKING SPECS & SERVICES
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PRICING.............................................................................................
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PAYMENTS
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PROGRAM COSTS, REVENUE SHARING & ADVERTISEMENTS
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DATA SHARING
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CUSTOMER
FEEDBACK............................................................................................
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Hoboken Covered Bike Parking Request for Information
Issue Date: October 7, 2024
INTRODUCTION
The City of Hoboken considers itself to be a national leader in multi-modal mobility. According to the United States Census Bureau, 34% of Hoboken households do not own a vehicle, which is more than four times the nationwide rate of 8% and three times the statewide rate of 11%. Moreover, as of 2021, 46% of Hoboken residents commuted to work using public transportation, one of the highest shares in the United States. Many residents also rely on the Citi Bike bikeshare program, NJ
Transit bus and light rail, and the Hop, Hoboken’s free intracity transit service, for trips within Hoboken. Hoboken’s compact size, high population density, and connectivity to New York City, where 56% of residents work, contribute to the appeal of alternatives to single occupancy vehicle travel.
Hoboken has seen a rise in bicycling in recent years, as a result of cultural trends, new bike lane
and bike parking infrastructure, and the prevalence of the Citi Bike bikeshare program. At the same time, growth in app-based food delivery services such as Grubhub and Uber Eats has led toan influx in e-bike delivery workers. Hoboken has installed hundreds of bike racks throughout the city to meet the growing bike parking demand. Observed usage patterns suggest that bikes used for commercial deliveries are competing for the same space as commuter parking near Hoboken Terminal creating a condition where many of these racks are full during peak morning demand hours.
The City of Hoboken is looking for creative solutions to support the recent growth in demand for bicycle parking, particularly in the high-density area around Hoboken Terminal. There is also a need to continue to increase bike parking capacity throughout Hoboken. The purpose of this RFI is to explore the range of bike parking options, from traditional inverted u-racks to covered outdoor storage to tech solutions for secure bike parking and access for both overnight and daytime periods. The bicycle mix in Hoboken also continues to change, expanding from manual pedal-powered bicycles to a range of e-bikes and cargo bikes for both personal and commercial use. As the bicycle fleet expands, Hoboken’s bike parking options must be responsive to the needs of this range of cyclist.
HOW TO ANSWER THIS RFI
The City of Hoboken will be seeking answers to the following questions. Your answers should be specific to the question and avoid generalities. Please include examples from your current state of practice, and when applicable, to your future state of practice. Feel free to include attachments or links within your response.
Your answers must follow the format and sequence below.
All submissions must be received by email no later than 12:00 PM EST on October 25, 2024.
Please send your response to this RFI electronically to Jesse McGowan at jmcgowan@hobokennj.gov. If you wish to submit your response by mail, please send it to Jesse McGowan, City of Hoboken Department of Transportation & Parking, 94 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030.
All responses will be considered non-binding and are for informational purposes only. Your responses shall become property of the City of Hoboken upon submission and will remain anonymous to extent allowable under local public record laws. You must indicate what responses you wish to be kept confidential.
Note: this request for information shall not be interpreted as a replacement for a request for proposals (RFP). The City of Hoboken intends to issue an RFP based on community feedback, the City’s Vision Zero
Hoboken Covered Bike Parking Request for Information
Issue Date: October 7, 2024
and sustainability goals, and the information received in the RFI responses. The timeline of the issuance of the RFP remains to be determined, but it will likely be issued sometime in Fall 2024.
SYSTEM DETAILS
1. Your bike parking system name(s)
2. Provide an example of any systems you operate that are in cities similar Hoboken, NJ
3. Briefly explain how your system is set up (i.e., traditional bike parking, membership entry,
reservation-based)
4. Do any of your systems operate across multiple jurisdictions?
5. What is the largest service area you operate within?
6. Do you operate under any “pilot” conditions? If so, how long is your typical pilot?
7. How long does it typically take for you to “stand up” your system in a new location? Please
outline any steps, including community engagement that demonstrate how you launch your bike parking
system in a new community.
8. Please list any purchasing co-ops you belong to.
PARKING SPECS & SERVICES
1. What types of bicycles can be accommodated by your system?
2. What are the dimensions of your bike parking system? What are the dimensions per individual
bike space? Please provide any specs or plans for a typical layout.
3. How modular is your system?
4. Will the facilities require any structural approvals and/or permits?
5. How intensive will the installation process be? For example, will it require breaking ground
and/or road closures?
6. Do you restrict bicycles based on type or use (e.g., e-bikes, delivery operators)
7. Do you provide chargers and/or secure storage for bike batteries?
8. Do have safety protocols for e-bikes and their batteries?
9. Do you require utility connections? Do you offer solar-powered alternatives?
10. Do you offer weather protected or covered parking?
11. Do you have time limits or other restrictions on how long a bicycle can be parked?
12. How do you manage abandoned bicycles?
PRICING
1. What is your business model, and how is it supported (single-use payments, membership, subscription, etc.)?
2. Is pricing determined by you or the municipality?
3. If you determine your own pricing, what factors go into developing your final rate?
4. Do you use “surge pricing,” or other demand-based rider rate structure?
5. Do you offer discounted pricing for seniors, low-income households, or other groups?
PAYMENTS
1. If your system requires payments, what forms of payment do you accept?
2. Does the user pay at the beginning or the end of the period in which they are parked?
Hoboken Covered Bike Parking Request for Information
Issue Date: October 7, 2024
3. If discounts are reduced fees are designated for certain uses, how are do these users access
their discounted rate?
4. Can promotional codes be created for special events?
PROGRAM COSTS, REVENUE SHARING & ADVERTISEMENTS
1. Do you have any revenue sharing agreements with municipalities?
2. Do you have cost-sharing agreements with municipalities, where the municipality subsidizes your services to achieve a desired rider fare and service level?
3. How do you determine your overall program cost to a municipality?
4. What variable factors influence your program cost?
5. What are your operational cost categories?
6. Do you seek additional sources of revenue to support the program (grants, sponsorships, etc.)?
7. What role, if any, does third-party advertising play in your program?
DATA SHARING
1. What data do you share with your client municipality? Do you provide a data dashboard? Please
provide any relevant examples and screenshots from existing programs.
2. What API do you use (e.g., MDS)?
3. Do you integrate your parking locations with popular apps such as Google Maps or Apple Maps?
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
1. How do you solicit customer feedback?
2. How can customers contact you to report an issue? What is your targeted customer service response time?
3. Do you have a social media presence dedicated to municipalities / systems you operate within?
4. How do you engage with typically underserved populations, such as public housing residents and
seniors? Please include any examples of these engagement efforts.
5. How do you engage with limited English proficiency (LEP) populations? Do you have the capability to translate outreach materials and/or your app into multiple languages?
