ZAP! Minneapolis RFID Bicycle Commuter Tracker & Rewards Program

Background & Summary

Downtown Minneapolis is the largest employment center in the region employing over 139,000 individuals, of which 26% or 36,000 live within 5 miles of their work location, a comfortable distance to bike or walk to work. As the region grows and employment demographics change programs that reinforce and reward alternative commuting modes, such as biking, are paramount to a continued effort to expand the use of alternative commuting modes among downtown commuters.

Commuter Connection has a long history of providing bike programming to over 120 employers and organizations in downtown Minneapolis. In 2010 Commuter Connection worked with 6 downtown worksites to implement a State Health Improvement Program, which provided bicycling education, rewards and assessed the bike walk friendliness of the participating worksite. Through this work we encouraged individuals to logon to mycommuterchallenge.org and track their trips (mycommuterchallenge.org is an online trip tracker operated by Metro Transit). We found that the tracker provided inconsistent tracking data. During the evaluation phase of this work we identified that in order to maximize our success with tracking trips, we needed to develop a program that automatically recorded trips and did not require additional manual entry. Therefore, we have developed the following program, based on 5 key areas:  Automatically tracking bicyclers entering the Downtown Minneapolis core using RFID technology  Rewards for bicycling  Decrease bicycle theft through registration with the National Bike Registry  Bicycling education  Cross organizational and intra‐organization evaluation/analysis for building managers, employers, Individuals and municipalities  Worksite Bike Friendliness Audit and Designation program

This program primarily follows the loyalty program model, much like airline miles, you rack up points for discounted goods/services the more you travel by bicycle. In addition, the model is bolstered by Commuter Connection’s already established bicycle curriculum. Individuals will also receive a 10‐year registration for their bike with the National Bike Registry.

In order to increase data and tracking capabilities Commuter Connection and Dero Bike Rack Company have developed the following proposal to implement a network of Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Counters along the perimeter of downtown Minneapolis. The main focus in Phase 1, of this portion of the project, is to attain accurate real time data about registrants entering and exiting downtown on their bicycles, to establish a daily cordon count of registered users. Municipalities, building mangers, employers and individuals

will also have access to on‐demand statistics to be analyzed for various purposes. Phase 2 of this portion of the project will look to add additional Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Counters as new infrastructure projects and facilities that lead into downtown Minneapolis come on line. In addition, Phase 2 will look at placing Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Counters at specific building sites outside the downtown core, such as within the North Loop.

In order to reward bicycle commuters Commuter Connection and Freewheel Bike Shop will develop, as a part of this project, a point system which will apply points to the registered user’s account each time they pass a Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Counter. Points will then be redeemable for discounted bicycle related goods and services.

In order to decrease bicycle theft, Commuter Connection and the National Bicycle Registry will provide a 10‐year bicycle registration with every new RFID Bicycle Commute Tracker registration.

In order to gain employer and building manager support for bicycling and to increase the bike friendliness of worksites in downtown, Commuter Connection will utilize an already established Bike Friendliness Assessment and Award System. This assessment tool was created with the help of the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Services and the Bike Walk Ambassadors. The assessment tool gauges the bike friendliness of the participating worksite, identifies key areas for improvement at the worksite and provides a list of potential options the worksite can take advantage of to increase their bike friendliness. Worksites are awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level. See attached document.

Commuter Connection, working with over 120 downtown employers, will roll this program up into its already established bicycle program. Educational programming will be offered in conjunction with the aforementioned project components in order to increase safe and confident cycling. Commuter Connection currently has 2 League Certified Bicycling Instructors on staff.

Commuter Connection’s day to day operations are 80% funded through a CMAQ grant. Funding for this project will be used to leverage existing CMAQ funds as it pertains to staffing and administration. This reduces staffing and administrative costs for this project to 20% or $5.00 per hour.

The following project plan has been prepared to provide an overarching view of what this program will look like when implemented. Commuter Connection requests full funding for year‐one implementation of the system at $123,791.00. Revenues from sales each year will be forwarded to the next year to buy additional materials (RFID Tags and National Bicycle Registry Registrations). The program becomes financially self‐ sustaining in its second year. In addition, later reiterations of the program will strive to incorporate a means of issuing the $20 bicycle commuter benefit by utilizing the Dero ZAP! RFID counter system.

Goals & Objectives 1. Increase bicycle mode share and decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT). 2. Increase bicycling through the use of on educational programing, participant rewards and organizational awards. 3. Increase health among employees at participating worksites. 4. Provide a measureable result utilizing RFID technology. 5. Increase the bike friendliness of downtown Minneapolis worksites.

Assumptions & Interdependencies 1. Increasing bicycling to work has substantial health and environmental impacts. 2. Dero will provide free installation and maintenance of Dero ZAP system. 3. Full system will require 15 Dero ZAP! check in stations along the perimeter of downtown Minneapolis. 4. The Dero ZAP! system is designed to record the number of people entering and exiting downtown Minneapolis via bicycle each day. 5. Commuter Connection will administer the following program components: a. Marketing & Communications b. Registrations c. Registration Maintenance d. Educational Events e. Bike Friendly Assessment and Designation 6. Installation of Dero ZAP! check in stations will require variances from the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park & Rec or Hennepin County. 7. System will operate on a wireless network and will be solar powered. 8. Commuter Connection will partner with Freewheel Bike Shop to develop and provide a rewards program. 9. Registration for ZAP! Minneapolis will include registration with the National Bicycle Registry for 10 years. 10. Registration for commuters will be a one‐time fee of $15.00/bike. New to replace lost or damaged RFID tags will be $6.00/bike. 11. Worksites in year 2 and beyond will be assessed an annual fee to retain access to their online administrative portal and on‐demand statistics. The fee structure will be developed in year 2 in conjunction with feedback from participating worksites.

Program Components

Tracking

•Based on Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Commuter Counter •15 Dero ZAP! poles located around the perimeter of downtown Minneapolis • Provides automated realtime data

Rewards

•Bike commuters collect 1 point each time they enter and exit downtown Minneapolis •Points are redeemable for discounted bicycle goods and services

Evaluation

•System provides online, on‐demand reporting for municipalities, building managers, employers & employees •Year 1 evaluation and report on project pperformace.

Education & Outreach

• Education programs and outreach activities are available to all downtown commuters

Security

•Every registrant is also registered for 10 years with the National Bike Registry

Bike Friendliness Assessment

•The assessment tool gauges the participating worksite's bike friendliness, provides tools to increase bike friendliness and awards the worksite with a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum bike friendliness rating.

Budget Year 1 EXPENSE QUANTITY PRICE/UNIT TOTAL PRICE Dero ZAP! 15 $6,500.00 $97,500.00 Wi‐Fi Hosting/Year 15 $239.40 $3,591.00 RFID Tags 500 $4.00 $2,000.00 NBR Bicycle Registrations 500 $3.50 $1,750.00 Staffing/Administration* 400 $5.00 $2,000.00 Rewards 24 $50.00 $1,200.00 Online Rewards System 100 $100.00 $10,000.00 Dero ZAP! Installation Varies In Kind In Kind Variances 15 $250.00 $3,750.00 Printed Materials Varies $2,000.00 $2,000.00 TOTAL EXPENSES $‐123,791.00

INCOME QUANTITY SALES PRICE TOTAL REVENUE Year 1 Grant Funding $123,791.00 System Registrations 500 $15.00 $7,500.00 TOTAL INCOME $131,291.00 TOTAL EXPENSES ‐$123,791.00 TOTAL INCOME LESS EXPENSES $3,750.00 BALANCE FORWARD TO YEAR 2 $3,750.00 *Commuter Connection receives 80% Federal Funding through a CMAQ grant for day to day operations with a requirement that Commuter Connection provides a 20% local funding match. Staffing is therefore applied to this program at 20% or $5.00 per hour with CMAQ covering the remaining 80% of staffing cost.

Budget Year 2‐5 EXPENSE QUANTITY PRICE/UNIT TOTAL PRICE Wi‐Fi Hosting/Year 15 $239.40 $3,591.00 RFID Tags 500 $4.00 $2,000.00 NBR Bicycle Registrations 500 $3.50 $1,750.00 Staffing/Administration 100 In Kind In Kind System Maintenance Varies In Kind In Kind Printed Materials Varies In Kind In Kind TOTAL EXPENSES ‐$7,341.00

INCOME QUANTITY SALES PRICE TOTAL REVENUE Balance Forward from Previous Year $3,750.00 System Registrations 500 $15.00 $7,500.00 TOTAL INCOME $11,250.00 TOTAL EXPENSES ‐$7,341.00 TOTAL INCOME LESS EXPENSES $3,750.00 BALANCE FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR $3909.00

How it Works

Location Map (Phase 1) City of Minneapolis 24‐Hour Bicyclist EDT & ZAP! System Overlay

Phase 2 of this portion of the project will look to add additional Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Counters as new infrastructure projects that lead into downtown Minneapolis come on line. In addition, Phase 2 will look at placing Dero ZAP! RFID Bicycle Counters at specific building sites outside the downtown core, such as in the North Loop. Phase 2 implementations will be funded by private entities.

All counts were conducted by the City ZAP! LOCATION AVAILABLE BICYCLE of Minneapolis is September 2007, STATION COUNT DATA 2008 & 2009. NUMBER

1 7th St N @ 6th Ave N No Count Data Available Greeen lines indicate the amount of bicycle traffic likely along a corridor 2 1st Street S @ 2nd Ave N 300 within a particular range, using 3 Hennepin Ave Bridge @ Mississippi River 1329 counnts taken. Thicker lines and darker colors represent corridors with higher 4 3rd Ave/Central Ave Bridge @ Mississippi River 510 bicyclist volumes 5 Stone Arch Bridge @ Mississippi River 1300 6 West River Parkway @ I‐35W No Count Data Available While comparisons can be drawn by reviewing the thickness of green 7 Washington Ave @ I‐35W 600 lines, they are not proportionate to 8 Light Rail Trail @ 11th Ave S 1360 the values shown.

9 11th Ave S @ I‐94/I‐35W 310 Corriidors with no data available 10 Park Ave S @ I‐94/I‐35W 602 should not be presumed to have low 11 Portland Ave S @ I‐94/I‐35W 650 bicyclist traffic volumes

12 3rd Ave S @ I‐94 470 Find full count data at: 13 Nicollet Ave @ I‐94 No Count Data Available http:://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bic ycles/BicyclistPedestrianCountReport 14 Loring Bikeway @ I‐94 1300 2009.pdf 15 Cedar Lake Trail @ Glennwood Ave 770

Education

Commuter Connection, in conjunction with the Dero ZAP!! RFID Bicycle Commuter Counter program, plans to reinforce activates with free educational courses at worksites and office towers in downtown Minneapolis. Education offerings are as follows:

Basics of Bicycling for Transportation Minneapolis is the #1 cycling city in the U.S. according to Bicycling Magazine – come see what it’s all about! This presentation will help you to develop the skills you need to use your bicycle for more of your trips – including your trip to work. Participants will learn about riding a bicycle as a vehicle, safety, riding comfort, and good tips for getting into and around downtown. Join fellow employees and learn about how to become part of the cycling wave in Minneapolis.

Basic Maintenance Course One of the fun things about bicycles is that with a little know‐how, most people can keep them running with their own hands. This course covers basic maintenance techniques, including keeping a bicycle clean and lubricated and fixing a flat tire. If time permits, we’ll also cover basic brake and derailleur adjustment.

Bicycle Skills Haven’t been on a bicycle in a while? We offer a parking lot course where you can hone your skills and learn to be a confident and safe bicycle commuter. We cover the basic skills of starting and stopping, scanning, signaling & maintaining a straight line, dodging small objects on the road, and stopping quickly. If you don’t have a bicycle, the Bike Walk Ambassadors have a fleet of bicycles available to lend for this course.

Riding with Traffic Put into practice what you learned in the Basics of Bicycling for Transportation! Take a ride through downtown Minneapolis with two certified instructors as your guides. We’ll practice roadway positioning, scanning, signaling and turning and changing lanes. We’ll also show you how to get to and from the major trailheads that surround downtown Minneapolis using recommended bicycling routes. Benefits/Returns  On demand real‐time data and analysis capabilities.  Rewards actual behavior.  Provides possibilities to utilize data for various studies and analyses as needed.  Provides opportunity to integrate $20 Bicycle Commuter Credit reporting.  Provides on demand information on VMT reduced.  Increase bicycle friendliness at worksites.

Program Operation Year 1: 1. Install and Implement Phase 1 System. 2. Utilize working relationships with employers and building managers to sign up worksites or buildings for the program. Worksites can choose to subsidize the $15.00 registration fee for commuters or pass the entire cost onto the commuter. 3. Complete worksite bike friendliness assessment. 4. Set up worksite administrator login access for participating worksites. This access would provide administrators at participating worksites to access online data for commuters traveling to their worksite. 5. Market program to commuters at participating worksite. 6. Register commuters for the program at their worksite, by website and at Commuter Connection’s retail store located on the skyway level of US Bank Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. 7. Evaluate program results after first 6 months of implementation and provide raw data and an executive summary to stakeholders including: a. Participating Building Managers and Employers b. Stakeholders including Municipalities and other Planning Organizations c. Phase 1 Funding Agencies 8. Evaluate Phase 2 expansion options and opportunities including; a. Marketing program to employers and building managers in un‐served areas like North Loop b. Provide opportunity to sponsor the installation of a Dero ZAP! Commuter Counter at their site. Year 2‐5: 1. Install and implement Phase 2 2. For EXISTING Participating Building Managers and Employer a. Market program to commuters at participating worksite. b. Register commuters for the program at their worksite, by website and at Commuter Connection’s retail store located on the skyway level of US Bank Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. c. Review worksite bike friendliness assessment. 3. For NEW Participating Building Managers and Employer a. Utilize working relationships with employers and building managers to sign up additional worksites or buildings for the program. Worksites can choose to subsidize the $15.00 registration fee for commuters or pass the entire cost onto the commuter. b. Complete worksite bike friendliness assessment. c. Set up worksite administrator login access for participating worksites. This access would provide administrators at participating worksites to access online data for commuters traveling to their worksite. d. Market program to commuters at participating worksite.

e. Register commuters for the program at their worksite, by website and at Commuter Connection’s retail store located on the skyway level of US Bank Plaza building in downtown Minneapolis. 4. Evaluate program results after first 6 months of implementation and provide raw data and an executive summary to stakeholders including: a. Participating Building Managers and Employers b. Stakeholders including Municipalities and other Planning Organizations c. Phase 1 Funding Agencies 5. Evaluate Phase 2 expansion options and opportunities including; a. Marketing program to employers and building managers in un‐served areas like North Loop b. Provide opportunity to sponsor the installation of a Dero ZAP! Commuter Counter at their site.

Stakeholders and Partners

Stakeholder/Partner Engaged On‐Board Responsibility Commuter Connection Yes Yes Administer, Market & Sell Program Dero Bike Rack Co. Yes Yes Install and Maintain Dero ZAP! System Freewheel Bike Shop Yes Yes Provide online rewards fulfillment GoKart Labs Yes Awaiting Reply Develop online rewards system City of Minneapolis No Not Currently Provide variances for ZAP! installation Park Board No Not Currently Provide variances for ZAP! installation Employer & Building Managers Yes Yes, Several Allow sale and registration of system to employees Bike Walk Twin Cities Yes Awaiting Reply Year 1 Funding

Schedule