WeCycle and Downtowner report heavy use; trustees ask staff for demographic data and priorities amid funding uncertainty

WeCycle (the bike-share operator) and Downtowner (a microtransit operator) presented usage data for Carbondale and discussed next steps as local subsidy eligibility expires.

Mallory (identified in the meeting as a WeCycle co-founder and executive director) told trustees Carbondale’s WeCycle system includes 18 stations and roughly 80 bikes, about half of them e-bikes. She said a high share of short trips are to and from the Carbondale Park and Ride and that the system has seen strong local uptake; the presentation noted nearly 5,000 distinct Carbondale riders since launch and systemwide usage figures WeCycle described during the presentation. Mallory and Rafta-affiliated presenters said RFTA (the regional transportation authority) funds core capital and provides a first-last-mile reserve that covered 50% of local operating costs for participating jurisdictions, and…