Docked Bike Share Feasibility Study

Project Overview

The City of Golden Planning Department, in collaboration with the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), is launching a study to evaluate the feasibility of a docked, solar-charging bike share program in the City of Golden.

The 2020 Transportation Master Plan identifies micromobility planning as a Tier 1 program. Data from the 2022 Biennial Downtown Employee Transportation Survey indicates that 47% of respondents (210 individuals) commute five miles or less to work. Similarly, 69% of respondents to the City’s 2020 Transportation Master Plan survey reported driving alone for their commute, while only 2% reported commuting by bicycle, suggesting an opportunity to expand mobility options that support alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel.

A bike share program makes bicycles available for short-term use within the community. A docked system uses fixed stations where bikes are checked out and returned, providing a more reliable and organized approach to system management and maintenance. For this study, “bike share” refers specifically to a docked system using electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes).

The study will explore whether or not a docked bike share system could enhance everyday travel in Golden by expanding mobility options, reducing reliance on cars, and improving access to key destinations. It will also identify the operational, infrastructure, and management considerations needed to successfully implement and manage a docked, solar-charging e-bike share program. The study is expected to be finalized in December 2026.

This study is funded through DRCOG’s Innovative Mobility Set-Aside program.

Please note: this effort is strictly a feasibility study intended to evaluate whether a bike share system could support the City of Golden’s goals related to sustainability, mobility, and active transportation. The City remains committed to completing the full scope of the feasibility study prior to making any decisions regarding future funding or implementation.

Feasibility Study Timeline

The following outlines the scope of the feasibility study. The analysis is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

• Existing Conditions Analysis:
  • To inform the feasibility study and ensure alignment with the City’s existing planning and policy framework, the project team reviewed relevant transportation planning documents, GIS and census data, and conducted interviews with peer agencies that operate similar shared micromobility programs. The findings from this effort were compiled in an Existing Conditions Memo. The Existing Conditions Executive Summary is available to the public here on the City’s Guiding Golden project website under Documents.
• Public Engagement:
  • Thank you to everyone who completed the Docked Bike Share Feasibility Study survey and attended one of our project engagement events! We had a tremendous level of participation. The project team is now reviewing community feedback to guide the next phase of the study, and continuing to assess Golden’s priorities and local micromobility opportunities.
  • As the study continues and final report and implementation plan is developed, there will be additional opportunities for community engagement.
  • The project team conducted several community engagement events in early 2026, in addition to social media outreach, City communication publications, and yard sign outreach efforts. Events included:
    • Guiding Golden Survey: January 28, 2026 – April 3,2026
    • Colorado Environmental Film Festival Pop-up Event: February 20 – 22, 2026
    • Golden Community Center Pop-up Event: March 9, 2026
    • Colorado School of Mines Student Center Pop-up: March 11, 2026
    • Mobility and Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB): March 16, 2026, April 23, 2026
• Final Report and Implementation Plan:
  • Once all phases of the study are complete, the project team will develop a practical, phased implementation plan that outlines a short-term pilot program as well as a scalable long-term plan, should the City decide to move forward with implementation of the program.
  • This report will include detail on the following analysis conducted throughout the study:
    • Management Structure, Fleet, and Station Siting Analysis
    • Ridership Pricing Models
    • Data Sharing and Policy Best Practices
  • Additional community engagement will be conducted at this time.

Additional Resources

If you, someone you are assisting, or an organization you represent needs additional support to participate in this planning process due to limited access to technology, a disability, or language access needs, please contact Grace Fleming at gfleming@cityofgolden.net or (303) 597-5242.

Si usted, una persona a la que asiste o una organización necesita ayuda adicional para participar en nuestro proceso de planificación debido a un acceso limitado a la tecnología, una discapacidad o una necesidad de acceso lingüístico, póngase en contacto con gfleming@cityofgolden.net o (303) 597-5242.