Don’t expect to see any Bird or Lime scooters along our sidewalks anytime soon, but a regional bike-share program could be coming to Claremont streets.   

The council voted unanimously to extend an emergency moratorium on scooter rental businesses in Claremont, which was set to expire this coming September.

But the council also voted to look into a bike-share program from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG). The bike program, formed by a partnership with Gotcha Media Holdings, LLC, is completely funded by various grants to the tune of $4.55 million, the city said, requiring no additional funds from the city.

The program will include 15 cities in the SGV and provide a minimum of 840 bikes, the city said. San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona are already a part of the program.

Julie Medero, the chair of the traffic and transportation commission, praised the SGVCOG’s plan, noting it has “all of the things we’re been looking for in a bike share program,” including types of bikes they’re using—which includes pedal-assist and e-bikes— and the idea of regional connectivity.

“We know that regional connectivity is important to the success of a program like this,” Ms. Medero said. “We live close enough to other cities that being able to take a bike across city lines is really important to the success of those programs.”

Ms. Medero said the program is scheduled to start in early 2020, which would give the city time to craft a permanent ordinance regulating scooters and bike share programs before this new emergency moratorium expires next September. 

The council approved the emergency ordinance unanimously.

The next city council meeting will take place on July 23.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com