Stationless permit requirements

San Francisco has issued a nine-page permit application for companies wanting to operate stationless bike sharing. These are some of the requirements:

Bikes: Should be “high-quality,” “sturdy,” with proper safety equipment (brake, light, reflectors); able to withstand “outdoor storage and constant use for at least five years,” have tamper-resistant security hardware and “accommodate a wide range of riders.” Must have a “mechanism” for users to report issues and a 24-hour customer service number. Bikes must be available 24/7/365, on an hourly basis or in smaller intervals.

Fees: Operator must pay the city agency:

A startup fee ranging from $12,208 (less than 500 bikes) to $19,558 (3,500 or more bikes) plus an annual renewal fee ranging from $9,725 to $17,074. $2,500 a year for 10 years for possible repairs to public property. For every two bikes in service, a fee to cover the cost of a standard bike rack.

Tracking: Bikes must have an on-board GPS device to provide real-time location data to the city. Operator must provide city with aggregate customer demographics that do not identify individuals.

Targeted communities: Operator must provide an outreach program to promote bike-sharing in low-income communities; maintain a multilingual website; provide “unlimited trips under 30 minutes” to low-income customers; and make sure at least 20 percent of bike availability is in “communities of concern.”

Rebalancing: Operator must redistribute bikes to maintain density of at least three bikes per square mile for more than 10 consecutive minutes between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days per week.

Parking: Bikes must be parked in a public bike rack or in the “furniture zone” of the sidewalk.