University of Virginia
IN-1: Innovation 1

The UBike program is the result of a multi-year team collaboration between P&T and the UVa Office of the Architect, partially funded by VDOT Transportation Enhancement grants. The initial concept for bike share at UVa was developed by students in the McIntire School of Commerce. UBike opened to the public in January of 2015 and consists of 18 stations and 120 bikes focused along the main travel corridors of campus and are strategically placed along primary bicycle, pedestrian, and transit routes. Several stations are located within the Medical Center. Members are able to find bikes at hub locations scattered throughout UVa’s campus or by looking online. They can reserve bicycles online, from SoBi’s mobile app, or directly from the keypads on the bikes. At the end of their ride, members can park the bikes at any bicycle rack in the system area and share statistics about their ride with other riders. UBike enables point to point bicycle travel over short and medium distances. It offers an innovative way to improve mobility, reduce overcrowding on transit, and improve safety. UBike functions as an integral part of UVa's multi-modal transportation network, offering a new and sustainable means of moving around the University Grounds. The system functions in coordination with other modes to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the network. UBike is one of only a few bikeshare systems servicing and operated by a University or College. In addition, the gps and software technology that operates the system is innovative among bikeshare types because it is self-contained on the bike. This means that the modular docking stations do not require a power source and can be easily moved and set up in alternate locations if demands patterns show a need. It also means that ride routes can be mapped and analyzed and used to improve the system layout and provide valuable bike infrastructure planning information.

As noted above, the UBike system allows for detailed tracking of system usage beyond typical origin/destination information. Since launching the system in January until the middle of April 2015, the system has experienced 1,725 total trips and 1,095 miles traveled. This equates to $519 dollars saved and, more importantly, 789 lbs of carbon avoided versus driving.

There have been a lot of favorable articles in the local press about the UBike system: http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/18579-bike-sharing-at-uva/ http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/20276-uva-bike-sharing-on-a-roll-despite-hard-winter/ http://news.virginia.edu/content/ubike-provide-another-grounds-transportation-option