Nation's First Fully Integrated Clean Mobility Center Opens
LONG BEACH, Calif.--April 19, 2002--CALSTART, Bikestation Long Beach, and Flexcar today opened the nation's first fully integrated Clean Mobility Center (CMC) where the public can select four types of zero-emission vehicles for convenient, short trips around town and from the transit station to their final destination. The grand opening "plug-in" ceremony occurred at the Bikestation facility on the Transit Mall in Long Beach in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, public officials, and dignitaries.
The CMC's vehicle-sharing service, called City Wheels, includes environmentally friendly transit choices -- electric city cars, motor scooters and electric and conventional bicycles -- in an effort to encourage transit use, reduce emissions, and relieve parking and traffic congestion. By demonstrating the convenience and flexibility provided by the shared use of a variety of vehicles, City Wheels aims to also encourage citizens to make a mode shift from conventional automobiles to cleaner modes of transportation, such as transit, bicycling and walking.
"This program is a gridlock-busting, OPEC crushing, clean air program," commented John Boesel, President of CALSTART. "It says no to gridlock, no to OPEC and yes to clean air," Boesel said.
CALSTART, which originated the innovative Clean Mobility Center concept with Federal Transit Administration funding, strategically placed the inaugural CMC site at the Bikestation, a unique public bicycle-parking center, because of its proximity to the Long Beach Transit Mall. This multi-modal hub, located at the intersection of First Street and The Promenade in downtown Long Beach, services passengers departing and arriving on the Metro Blue Line from Los Angeles and Long Beach Transit.
"A few years ago, Bikestation was an ambitious program to encourage the use of bikes for transportation," said Mark Shandrow, Executive Director of the Bikestation Coalition of Long Beach. "Becoming the first Clean Mobility Center helps Bikestation expand the clean transportation options available to local residents, commuters and visitors to Long Beach."
Seattle, Washington-based Flexcar is providing the car sharing services for the Clean Mobility Center in Long Beach. David Leonhardt of Flexcar stated, "By providing commuters viable clean transit options other than their private cars, we want to make car sharing appealing to a wide range of potential users. Car sharing is an idea whose time has come in terms of addressing issues of energy consumption, parking and traffic congestion we experience on our roads today."
Available April 19 to local residents and area employees through a web-based membership program, applicants to City Wheels can log onto www.bikestation.org to join. Members will be charged a minimal hourly fee for vehicle usage and a one-time fee. (Must be at least 21 years of age with a California driver's license and a credit card.)
Clean Mobility Center amenities include:
| -- | Vehicle-sharing Service -- A fleet of Ford Think city cars will be available for rent through Flexcar's telephone reservation system, 24/7. |
| -- | Electric Bike and Scooter Rentals -- The fleet will include Giant Bicycle's LaFree models and Sam Ever `Vespa-style' motor scooters. |
| -- | Integrated Subscription Service -- Available through the Internet or on-site, the system signs-up members for any or all Clean Mobility Center services quickly and efficiently. |
| -- | Electronic Bike Lockers -- Keyless, unattended access to bicycle storage will be available with an electronic bike locker system. Members will be able to store a personal bike or rent an electric bike with ATM-like convenience using CALSTART's proprietary reservation system. |
| -- | Free Valet Bike Parking -- Bikestation Long Beach will continue to provide free, valet bike parking, as well as repairs, an accessories shop, and a changing room. |
The groundbreaking transportation program is a partnership between CALSTART, Bikestation Coalition and Flexcar with funds provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA funding for the program was secured with support from California's Congressional delegation, with specific assistance from Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency, Giant Bicycles, and Long Beach Energy are providing additional support.
Studies have shown that short trips by single passengers in conventional automobiles contribute significantly to air pollution, including smog and global warming gases such as carbon dioxide. These trips also increase traffic and parking congestion.
Commenting on these issues, John Boesel stated, "The Clean Mobility Center concept is just the beginning of a marriage of clean transportation technologies and systems designed to address the serious issues of air pollution, congestion, and energy security."
The City of Long Beach was selected because of its metropolitan population (453,000) and downtown workforce of more than 25,000. The City and its transportation affiliates are dedicated to building an inter-modal transportation system with clean, alternative energy sources including natural gas, electric and solar power. There are currently five electric vehicle-charging stations in the downtown area and a solar demonstration project of the LA Department of Water & Power also to be dedicated at the Clean Mobility Center on April 19.
The Clean Mobility Center is a transportation model that can be replicated at transit stations and in high-density communities nationwide. For more information on the CMC, visit the CALSTART web site at www.calstart.org, or call (626) 744-5600.
To register or for further City Wheels registration information, visit the web site at www.bikestation.org or call (562) 733-0106.
Photographs or digital images are available upon request.