Bike sharing is an innovative approach to urban mobility, combining the convenience
and flexibility of a private vehicle with the accessibility and reliability of mass transit.
Our sister company, Alta Bicycle Share, Inc., is the developer/operator of bike sharing programs in Washington, D.C., Boston, and Melbourne, Australia. Alta Planning + Design has provided expertise to numerous other cities considering or about to implement bike share systems. This unique experience provides us with deep insight into the details and workings of successful bike share systems. 
Alta is skilled in all facets of bicycle share program development, including feasibility assessment, demand modeling, business plan development, and station location design, planning, and permitting. We have practical development and operational experience. We understand the practical elements of successful bike share design – programmatically, economically, and operationally. The results are fully informed, fact-based recommendations based on the unique characteristics of your defined bike share project.
Alta provides a blend of key skills needed for bike share planning studies, including:
Bike share feasibility studies. Our experience in planning, implementing, and operating bike share systems makes us uniquely qualified for all aspects of bike share feasibility studies, from program definition to system sizing and phasing, to selection of the most appropriate business model.
Development of tailored business plans. Our business
plans define expected system costs and work with public and private partners to develop a diversified funding strategy. We explore all avenues of potential revenues including user fees, sponsorship opportunities, and public and private funding. Our plans generate interest in bike share amongst decision makers, potential sponsors, and the general public.
Coordinating public-private partnerships for bike sharing operations in all of our systems. We operate multi-agency programs in North America and understand the nuances of creating a truly regional bike share system, identifying system responsibilities, and developing cost- and revenue-sharing agreements.
System design and station planning and permitting. Our planning experience includes designing the coverage area and density of the system, siting potential station locations, and working with local agencies to obtain permits for station placements. We help agencies understand station siting requirements through design drawings and visualizations.
State-of-the-practice planning and modelling tools. Our ability to provide value-added services, including economic impact analyses, operational evaluation, and to connect with system operators all over the world, is one of a kind. 
Data analysis and reporting. Our technology staff are intimate with the back-end of bike share operating software and use this to report trends in bike share usage, create simple and effective reporting tools for the system, and provide a feedback loop to planning and operations staff. This can lead to refinements in operations including an improved algorithm for rebalancing the system.
