North Omaha is the heart of Omaha, Nebraska’s Black community. It’s home to artists and activists and rich in culture and history. North Omaha is the birthplace of Malcolm X, home to three-weight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, and where jazz icons like Duke Ellington performed in the historic Dreamland Ballroom.

Like countless Black communities across the country, North Omaha has experienced generations of disinvestment, including being deliberately cut off from the rest of the city and denied basic public infrastructure and other services. Positively, residents in North Omaha are making strides toward a more connected and healthy neighborhood with projects like the North Omaha Trail, which aims to reconnect the neighborhood and increase public health infrastructure, guided by the communities along the route.

I became interested in sharing this as an Omaha native. Although I grew up in West Omaha,  I had the opportunity to bike on the trail in 2022 during the Juneteenth Joy Ride as part of the annual Juneteenth JoyFest, a Black Arts and Cultural Festival founded by Alajia McKizia in 2021.

Manuel Cook, a North Omaha resident, returned to Omaha after studying in the Netherlands in 2017 and wanted to bike around the city as he had gotten used to overseas. Upon returning, he took a job as a planner for the City of Omaha Planning Department, working with Neighborhood Action and Fact on a North Omaha neighborhood revitalization plan. While searching for different routes to get downtown, he stumbled on the route that is now the North Omaha Trail. He found that other folks in the neighborhood were using it as well to cross the Pratt Street Bridge over Highway 75, which divided and displaced the community in the 80s.

“The idea that came up was having a linear park. That's how we got some initial funds to clean up the area, and then through that, worked with Papio NRD and the National Park Service to put together the concepts for the North Omaha Trail,” says Cook. “That's where it really originated, it was that work with the community.”

This set in motion planning and fundraising for the trail in 2018. It was during this same period that Heartland Bike Share, Omaha’s bike share system operated by nonprofit ROAM Share, introduced electric bikes into its system. Cook partnered with Heartland Bike Share to organize a ride, with the first e-bike ride taking place on what would become the North Omaha Trail. 

Supporters of the trail project have always seen bike share as a natural fit, and the final build-out of the trail project will include Heartland Bike Share stations.

“Often, I learn about a project, and then I force myself in. I have to justify why it makes sense to put bike share,” says Benny Foltz, CEO of ROAM Share, which operates Heartland Bike Share. “But this [project] was very holistic, exciting, and everyone understood. We got no resistance. Bike share was just expected to be on the trail, as bike share should be.”

ROAM Share launched in 2011 with Heartland Bike Share and added Bike LNK in 2018 and Valentine Bike Share in 2020. Equity has always been a priority across the cities they serve in their operations, programming, and community engagement. Heartland Bike Share, specifically, has a Library Pass Program — where bike share passes can be checked out for free at Omaha’s 13 libraries, the Council Bluffs Public Library in Iowa, and the Sump Memorial Library in Papillion. They also offer a Reduced Cost Membership Program across all of their locations, providing $5 annual memberships to financially vulnerable residents, and host a free community rides series called We on Wheels (W.o.W). 

In 2024, Foltz worked to introduce the first bike share-specific state bill in the US — LB 1250. The goal of the bill is to create a grant program of up to $250,000 within the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for nonprofit organizations that operate bike share programs. While no action has been taken on the bill yet, it sets an important precedent in the push to ensure dedicated funding for bike share, which is a form of public transportation. The strategies that Foltz has used over the years to gain support for bike share (including taking elected officials on bike rides using bike share) can be added to the list of best practices. In a place that is not particularly bike friendly, where bicycling is often not a priority issue, Foltz has successfully turned unlikely groups of people on to bike share.

Eventually, Cook left the city to work at Spark CDI, a nonprofit community development organization in North Omaha, where he continued the trail project. He led community engagement and wrote the North Omaha Trail community design guide. He then led the design team through construction, leading public art and placemaking efforts for Phase 1. Heartland Bike Share was just one of the many partners Spark engaged with. Spark connected with residents and organizations in the neighborhood to design and vote on the trail project logo, and to have their input in the planning of the trail build-out with a community advisory board. Spark receives comments about what's happening in the community and gathers information about what they know the city is going to do, which they can then communicate to the board. The board, in turn, communicates it back to the community. A separate technical community of experts shares with Spark what they should focus on, review, or consider.

Construction for Phase 1 started in February/March of 2022, with the ribbon cutting on October 22, 2022. Some of the partners during Phase 1 included Keep Omaha Beautiful, who planted trees along the route during the ribbon cutting; artists, including Gerard Pefung, pictured below, on a mural project; and Bike Walk Nebraska, which hosts ride classes. Using data from Strava, a fitness tracking app, Spark was able to gauge trail usage.

“From a recreational standpoint, the number of people that were crossing the Pratt Street Bridge before the trail versus after, it was like an 800 or 1,000% increase,” says Ryan ZimmerMas, senior project manager at Spark. “It was something crazy like that. It’s really opened up that bridge to more users. Put it on the map, literally.”

In 2024, Spark was awarded $8 million from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to begin work on Phase 2 of the trail. Cook believes more commuters will use the trail with the completion of Phase 2, which will include a solid connection all the way into downtown and to Omaha’s RiverFront. In Phase 2, Spark will be able to install the encasement areas for the Heartland Bike Share docks.

Spark was hopeful that Phases 3 and 4, which would have included the installation of seven bike share stations, would be funded through an Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant, but a few months after submitting the grant application, the program was essentially nonexistent. Although this particular grant did not work out, Spark formed lasting partnerships as a result of the grant application process. ZimmerMas says the most impactful piece from this experience was getting the buy-in from the city, other institutional partners, and local grassroots partners, which was emphasized in the grant. Partners on the application included Spark Capital, City of Omaha, Keep Omaha Beautiful, Culxr House, Bike Walk Nebraska, Douglas County Health Department, One Omaha, Seventy-Five North Revitalization Corp., and ROAM Share.

Spark was able to fundraise to complete an initial 10% feasibility study for phases 3 and 4. Now they have a clearer picture of what these future phases will look like and cost, and will continue to fundraise for implementation.

Deisy Cole, current project manager for the North Omaha Trail at Spark, is working with the technical experts to strategize what the trail would look like if Phases 3 and 4 are broken up as smaller amounts of funding become available, and works with those partners to help them identify other funding sources to be able to move their pieces forward as well.

The trail is set to break ground on Phase 2 this April, with expected completion in 2027.

The vision of the North Omaha Trail encapsulates the uniqueness of this Black community in the Midwest — sparking community engagement, multimodal transportation, and environmental justice. 

"This trail offers an exciting — and visible — opportunity to encourage walking, cycling, and just plain old exercise,” says Omaha Mayor John W. Ewing Jr., a native North Omahan. “More than that, it offers a connection between North Omaha and the City, which should not be mutually exclusive places but instead part of the larger fabric that is One Omaha. I’m so excited to see this trail, and I’m excited to support cyclists and others who will use it.”

North Omaha Trail Connects Communities and Centers Its Culture

For the second year in a row, sustainability sponsors at PeopleForBikes’ Bicycle Leadership Conference will support local biking efforts in the city of Tucson. This year, BOSCH, Ortlieb, the Outdoor Industry Association, and Zwift are providing funding to a successful bike program led by FUGA — Familias Unidades Ganar Accesibilidad (aka Families United Gaining Access). FUGA has partnered with local operator TUGO Bike Share since 2018 on programming that centers the bicycle as a tool to connect and lift the voices of historically underserved communities across Tucson.

FUGA organizes around, advocates for, and mobilizes on issues that are important to the south and west sides of Tucson including housing, transportation, education, access to libraries and public services, and community connection. The monthly “Bicicleteada del Sur” and “Bici + Burro” rides help draw attention to the accessibility and infrastructure issues these communities face while celebrating the joys and utilitarian aspects of bicycling.

“FUGA has been able to engage multigenerational families on accessible free bike rides in their barrios, while using and highlighting bike infrastructure but also drawing direct attention to the historical inequities in connectivity.” says Vanessa Gallego, chief operating officer at Recyco, Inc. and project manager at FUGA.

Sponsorship dollars from the 2025 BLC will support FUGA’s two standard volunteer-led monthly rides with ride leaders and trained safeties who protect riders on the road. FUGA’s goal is to build community in a welcoming, safe space. They do this by incorporating a safety vehicle to act as a buffer between traffic and riders and provide aid if needed. They also distribute free bike lights, high visibility vests, water, snacks, and food. The rides have historically taken place with FUGA providing what they can without much financial support. The funding from our 2025 BLC sustainability sponsors will help make sustained investments in these monthly rides possible, including patch kits, helmets, and cooling measures for the upcoming rides during the hottest times of the year.


Born and raised in Tucson, Gallego knows the heat very well. “It is the last mile that can mean life or death in our desert city. As our community works towards a resilient Tucson, we know that means accessible mobility.”

Advancing Resilience and Access to Biking in Tucson

As someone new to the shared micromobility (SMM) space, spending this past year as BBSP’s writer was both encouraging and inspiring. I discovered an industry that is far more vibrant and intersectional than I realized going into this position. What began as an exploration of bike share systems unfolded into understanding how SMM brings people from all walks of life together to build better, more equitable communities.


One of the most surprising aspects of SMM is its broad appeal across different professions. It’s not just urban planners who are shaping this space — there are public health professionals, tech innovators, activists, entrepreneurs, mechanics, and nonprofit leaders all contributing in their own unique ways. 

Additionally, I learned how SMM systems are intertwined with infrastructure development. A well-designed SMM network relies on bike lanes, docking stations, and safe streets — all of which require thoughtful urban planning, investment, and intentional community engagement. These improvements create safer and more livable cities for everyone. 

Looking ahead, I’m eager to continue telling the evolving stories of SMM. Solar-powered charging stations, adaptive fleets, and cargo bike options are becoming more and more relevant. I’m particularly excited to see the impact of the free Pacers Bikeshare program in Marion County in Greater Indianapolis after its first full year. Similarly, regional systems like those emerging in the Sonoma and Marin County region, Western New York, and Greater Boston have the potential to reshape their transit ecosystems in meaningful ways.


Transportation Justice Fellowship: Our newest cohort is well underway with fellows engaged in skills-building sessions and one-on-one coaching. Fellows are supported by both BBSP staff and Robin Wright-Pierce and Nelson Pierce, Jr. from Transforming Change. Stay tuned for upcoming BBSP stories as we feature fellows each month leading up to the NACTO Designing Cities Conference where they will have a role in facilitating BBSP’s annual Shared Micromobility Roundtable.

Living Labs: The LA Living Lab Coalition, POGOH Bike Share, Tugo Bike Share, and Indego Bike Share are entering their first full year as Living Lab cities. With monthly cohort calls, the Living Labs serve as a space for cities across the country to connect and learn from each other. Each group is addressing barriers to accessing and using SMM in low-income communities and communities of color in their cities. As they test strategies for increasing participation, we look forward to learning from their work and reporting on their lessons learned.

Mini-Grants: Encouraged by the success of the 2024 awardees, we are thrilled to open our next round of mini-grants next month. Nonprofit community-based organizations, cities, and SMM operators are all encouraged to submit a proposal for grants ranging from $2,500-$10,000. Applications will open in mid-February — stay tuned!

As we kick off 2025, we have the opportunity to reflect on how far SMM has come and imagine what’s next, both for the industry and for BBSP. The potential for SMM to serve and engage diverse communities, connect with other public transit options, and lower transportation-related emissions is enormous. I look forward to telling these stories in the year ahead.

The Better Bike Share Partnership is funded by The JPB Foundation as a collaboration between the City of Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), and the PeopleForBikes Foundation to build equitable and replicable bike share systems. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or sign up for our weekly newsletter. Have a question or a story idea? Email odochi@peopleforbikes.org

Reflections on Shared Micromobility and the Road Ahead

Last month, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released its 2023 Shared Micromobility Report, breaking down station-based bike share and dockless e-scooter and e-bike ridership in North America in 2023 while offering recommendations on how cities can plan for the long-term viability of their systems.


Surpassing the previous record set in 2019, more people took shared micromobility trips in 2023 than in any other year.


At 157 million, total shared micromobility (SMM) trips increased by 20% over 2022, far surpassing the 2019 peak of 147 million trips. In Canada, SMM trips increased by an impressive 40% with 24 million trips in 2023. In the U.S., 133 million trips were taken last year — up 16% from 2022.

Station-based bike usage continues to increase, driven by the growing popularity of e-bikes.

The U.S. saw a total of 61 million station-based bike share trips in 2023, up from 53 million in 2022. Station-based trips taken by electric bicycle (e-bike) increased from 20 million trips in 2022 to 28 million trips in 2023, a substantial 40% growth. E-bike trips represented 46% of all station-based bike share trips. 

Canada saw a total of 20 million trips on station-based bikes in 2023, compared to 15 million in 2022. Differing from the U.S., this growth was largely due to station-based traditional (non-electric) bike rides. Canadians took 15 million trips on traditional bikes in 2023, increasing by nearly 40% from 2022.

Prices are rising, making shared micromobility more expensive compared to other public transit options, highlighting the need for accessible pricing models for every rider.

Shared micromobility riders often bear the brunt of paying sales tax on their trip, unlike other forms of public transportation. While income-based discounts offer substantial savings to those living below the federal poverty level, with the cost of living increasing for all, shared micromobility is moving further and further out of reach for working and middle class families.

Thankfully, the popularity of more-affordable annual or monthly pass options has significantly increased in recent years. Since 2019, annual pass sales have increased by 20% or more in places like Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Toronto. 


Infrastructure that supports safe bike and scooter share riding leads to increased ridership. 

It’s proven through research and practice that the build-out of connected and safe bike infrastructure motivates people to ride more. Cities that invest in safe bike infrastructure see the greatest increase in shared micromobility ridership year after year. 


A study conducted in Hamilton, Ontario, showed that increases in bicycling were greatest on concrete-barrier-protected bike lanes and other protected infrastructure on arterial streets well connected to other protected biking routes.

Public funding is vital for keeping shared micromobility programs sustainable.

The existence of shared micromobility programs continues to be threatened by financial instability. Public funding, foundation support, and longer-term sponsorships are necessary for sustainable systems. 

In the last few years, systems across the country (including Nice Ride in Minneapolis, Houston BCycle, RedBike in Cincinnati, and This Machine in Tulsa) have shut down because of a lack of sustainable funding. With these closures, it’s becoming abundantly clear that shared micromobility systems require dedicated public investment to provide stable, reliable service. 


When bike share systems first launched, few places considered it to be a form of public transportation. Cities often relied on outside operators to fund these mobility options. Now, 15 years after the first bike share system opened in North America, shared micromobility is no longer an experiment — it's a proven and vital piece of many cities' transportation systems. Unfortunately, funding is still unstable in many places. 

Shared micromobility is an essential transportation service. The Better Bike Share Partnership is taking this opportunity to highlight success stories and advocate for more support of bike and scooter share systems through increased public investment, the construction of safe and connected infrastructure, the creation of sustainable partnerships with system sponsors, and setting clear plans for long-term growth.


Last year, David Zipper highlighted the issue of expecting bike share to operate without subsidy in an article published in Fast Company. The North American Bike and Scooter Share Association has hosted webinars and industry conversations (which can be found here, here, and here) on the role local, state, and federal governments should play in funding shared micromobility. Now, we have NACTO’s 2023 report reinforcing these conversations by calling out that “it is more important than ever to secure sustainable funding models for shared micromobility programs.”


As ridership and popularity of shared micromobility only continues to grow, we must capitalize opportunities to stabilize bike and scooter share systems through sustained public investment and work with cities to safeguard the future of their shared micromobility systems. 


You can access NACTO’s full 2023 report here.


The Better Bike Share Partnership is funded by The JPB Foundation as a collaboration between the City of Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), and  PeopleForBikes to build equitable and replicable bike share systems. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or sign up for our weekly newsletter.

NACTO’s 2023 Shared Micromobility Report Highlights Need for Partnerships and Public Investment

The Better Bike Share Partnership, a collaboration between PeopleForBikes, the City of Philadelphia, and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), is proud to announce its second cohort of Living Labs focused on creating replicable programs for improving shared micromobility in BIPOC and low-income communities.

A strategy launched in 2020, BBSP Living Labs are testing grounds for innovative solutions. The program helps fulfill the partnership's mission of identifying barriers to bike share and developing strategies to address those barriers. The Living Lab approach provides time, flexibility, and gives grantees the opportunity to create lasting change, specifically to make their micromobility systems more equitable by increasing access to and use of bike share. 

Learn about our previous Living Labs and their achievements.

The new cohort includes bike share systems housed in and operated by a variety of organizations and companies. They operate in mid to large-sized cities and are diverse in their system size.

City of Tucson, Arizona — Tugo Bike Share

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority — Metro Bike Share

City of Philadelphia — Indego Bike Share

BBSP received 30 letters of interest from partnerships of cities, bike share operators, and community-based organizations looking to pilot, expand, replicate, or scale strategies and tactics to break down barriers to bike share in historically marginalized communities. 

Over the course of two and a half years, BBSP is committed to disbursing $200,000 to each Living Lab, covering costs associated with programming as well as technical support, scholarships, and travel stipends for relevant conferences. Grantees will also convene virtually every month to share learnings and build camaraderie as a cohort. Check back often as we showcase the work of each Living Lab.

Read the full press release below to learn more about each project.

Better Bike Share Partnership Announces Second Cohort of Living Lab Partners Focused on Equity

The Better Bike Share Partnership (BBSP), funded by The JPB Foundation to build equitable and replicable shared micromobility systems, is pleased to announce the selection of its second cohort of Living Labs. A collaborative between PeopleForBikes, the City of Philadelphia, and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), BBSP will provide four organizations with funding, support, and additional resources to develop best practices for creating access to shared micromobility and increase use of shared micromobility in historically marginalized communities. 

Each Living Lab identified barriers to bike and scooter share for BIPOC and those living on limited incomes in their cities. The organizations will spend the next two years working with local partners and community members to address these barriers.

“As a Living Lab, each grantee will have the time and flexibility to test strategies and implement new ideas so that BIPOC and lower-income communities can more easily access and use their bike share systems,” said  Tangier Barnes Wright, deputy director of shared micromobility at PeopleForBikes. “They will be part of a cohort of organizations advancing equity in shared micromobility and we look forward to learning from their work.”

Building on the work of Philadelphia — the first BBSP Living Lab city — the 2024 cohort will grow partnerships, lead with community engagement, expand already successful work, and test and refine strategies to bring bike share and historically marginalized populations together.

Here are the 2024-2026 Living Lab projects:


Through a community-led planning effort, Tugo Bike Share will collaborate with community-based organizations to determine how to reinvest resources to serve the south and west sides of Tucson more equitably. Through more equitable station siting and in-person engagement, Tugo will assess utilization rates in previously underserved areas and engage with community organizations and residents to better understand barriers to access and bike share adoption. The group will also work with partners and underserved communities to create a process that incorporates feedback, represents community needs, and builds capacity to better support and advocate for future bike share system expansion or electrification.


Equitable Outreach and Engagement in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s bike share system, POGOH, will work with community partners to develop a local engagement plan to address low ridership and awareness in the Homewood neighborhood. POGOH will address barriers to biking and mobility by building connections with Homewood students and families through a youth ambassador program, community rides, learn to ride courses, and programming with Safe Routes to School. By hiring neighborhood outreach associates to engage residents in bike share expansion, POGOH will create lasting opportunities for Homewood residents of all ages and skill levels to engage in biking and bike share. POGOH’s Living Lab work will take place alongside planned system expansion over the next two years.

Community-Led Coalition for Equitable In-Fill and Expansion of

This coalition of community partners will promote local involvement and trust in bike share for communities that, for the first time, will be directly served by Metro Bike Share. Through partnerships with community-based organizations, Metro Bike Share will implement educational programming and expand outreach efforts to create a process for sustained engagement, fostering community ownership in bike share initiatives. The project scope includes pre-station siting community engagement in central and westside Los Angeles as well as service area gaps. The Living Lab work will help ensure Metro’s planned bike share expansion is achieved while centering community members and equity.  

The City of Philadelphia, in collaboration with Bicycle Transit Systems and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, remains steadfast in its commitment to the equitable growth of the Indego bike share program. As Indego expands, it will use community input to continue refining its engagement initiatives which currently include the Indego Community Advisory Council, local mini-grants, Wheels to Work, Indego Community Ambassadors, and bike safety education and encouragement programs. Indego’s goal is to ensure communities within their service area can access the benefits of bike share and that community members’ voices are heard.

Meet the Better Bike Share Partnership's New Living Lab Grantees

While prioritizing sustainability at conferences is not a new concept, including bike share in conference sustainability efforts is certainly less common. Thanks to our generous 2024 Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) sustainability sponsors Revelyst and Ortlieb, as well as Tugo Bike Share in Tucson, Arizona, PeopleForBikes is helping expand access to active transportation opportunities by providing 500 annual bike share passes to Tucson residents who qualify for Tugo’s equity pass program, TugoForAll.


The Bicycle Leadership Conference is the bike industry’s annual event where top leaders and decision makers come together to chart the course of the bike business. The event features a perfect blend of inspiration, education, and action, allowing for peer-to-peer conversations aimed at moving our industry forward. 

Tugo Bike Share is the City of Tucson’s bike share system. A docked system with more than 300 bikes, Tugo provides a sustainable option for getting around the city. The system contributes to making Tucson a thriving and accessible place for residents and visitors alike.


This year’s BLC sponsors understand the connection between sustainability and biking and their generous support is making it possible for Tugo to increase the number of BIPOC and low-income Tucsonans who can get to where they need to go without a car.

"The City of Tucson is excited and grateful to have PeopleForBikes supporting shared micromobility in Tucson. By providing this funding, the city will put more Tugo For All annual bike share passes into the hands of those who rely on low-or-no-cost mobility options to access their everyday destinations. Eliminating that initial cost barrier is a key step to ensure our bike share system can be embraced by more Tucsonans," said Ben Elias at the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility.


Better biking means accessible biking. Bike share systems across the country are leading the way creating access to bicycling by attracting, including, and serving people from diverse backgrounds. Systems like Tugo are building community engagement processes and systems that serve everyone, as well as advancing equity and sustainability through programs that make bike share nearly free for those who qualify. 

PeopleForBikes is grateful for the generosity of Revelyst and Ortlieb, our new partnership with Tugo, and the opportunity to promote sustainability at our conferences in a new and meaningful way.

Topics

Bike Share

PeopleForBikes at Work on Bike Share

News

North Omaha Trail Connects Communities and Centers Its Culture

Advancing Resilience and Access to Biking in Tucson

Reflections on Shared Micromobility and the Road Ahead

NACTO’s 2023 Shared Micromobility Report Highlights Need for Partnerships and Public Investment

Meet the Better Bike Share Partnership's New Living Lab Grantees

Bike Share Gets a Boost in Tucson