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 Carbondale’s three-year offset is entering its final year of eligibility.

Travis Gleason, a cofounder of Downtowner, said the Carbondale microtransit service began July 1 and runs two vehicles during service hours. He told trustees Downtowner carried about 34,000 passengers across the service area since launch and recorded about 7,600 passengers in December; average wait time reported for December was roughly 11 minutes and the busiest window runs in late afternoon (about 3–6 p.m.). Downtowner staff said roughly one-third of Downtowner trips in Carbondale are to or from the Carbondale Park and Ride and that about half the trips are shared rides.

Board discussion focused on priorities and sustainability. Trustees and staff described two top policy priorities to inform future operating choices: (1) reliably linking Carbondale Park and Ride and other regional transit stops to downtown (to support regional transit connections) and (2) providing mobility for riders with access or disability needs. Trustees also discussed how services are used by youth and by older adults and asked staff to gather rider age/demographic data to better understand who is using each mode and when.

Staff and trustees flagged financial risk: RFTA’s first-last-mile reserve that offset half of participating jurisdictions’ operating costs applies for three years and Carbondale is now in the final year of the local offset. Rafta/board representatives said if long-term regional funding is not secured, local jurisdictions should prepare for roughly a doubling of local operating costs in a subsequent year.

Trustees asked the operators to return with options for demand management and prioritized service: examples discussed included dedicating a vehicle to park-and-ride trips at peak times, adding a third vehicle during afternoon peaks (which requires additional funding), targeted outreach in lower-use neighborhoods, and running limited free/paid rides or promotions for non-priority trips. Trustees also discussed opening Downtowner for evening school activities (a narrower exception than morning/evening school pick-up when demand is highest) and asked staff to coordinate with the school district and RFTA.

No policy change or funding commitment was made at the meeting. Trustees asked staff to work with RFTA, WeCycle and Downtowner to collect rider demographic data (age cohorts and neighborhoods), return with recommended priorities tied to the town’s goals (transit connectivity and mobility-impaired riders), and report funding scenarios and options for adding a third vehicle during peak hours or modifying fare/policy settings.