TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Chapter 10.50, relating to bicycle registration, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On December 14, 2010, the City Council requested the City Manager to report to the City Council in 30 days, the feasibility, costs, and potential benefits of eliminating the bicycle registration requirement and instead moving towards a voluntary registration program.
Currently, the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC), Chapter 10.50 governs bicycle registration in the City, with Section 10.50.20 stating: "No person shall ride or propel any bicycle upon any street, alley, park or bicycle path or other public place in the city which is not registered, or for which the appropriate fee has not been paid or which does not bear a bicycle plate as required by the provisions of this chapter."
Last year, the Police department issued 1,035 citations for lack of bicycle registration, but in every instance that was not the only infraction. Bicycle registration is primarily used to assist the Police Department in returning stolen bicycles to their registered owners. Last year, 980 bicycles were recovered, 220 of which were returned to owners.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Santa Monica and other cities have ended their requirements for bicycle licensing. The reasons cited include a lack of cost-
effectiveness based on fees not covering the cost of administering the program, a high rate of non-compliance due to difficulty purchasing licenses from fire stations or other city facilities, and an uniformed public regarding a rarely enforced section of the California Vehicle Code.
Issuance of Bicycle Licenses
In accordance with LBMC Section 10.50.030, bicycle licenses are issued every Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Since Fire Department personnel are not always available during these times, some residents have had difficulty in purchasing licenses. In an effort to make purchasing a license more convenient, in January 2011, the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department began offering licenses at ten locations citywide. Bicycle licenses are also available at the Bikestation downtown, and at Jones Bicycles in Belmont Shore. The City currently charges $3.00 for each new bicycle license, and $3.00 for each license renewal.
Revenues and Expenditures
In FY 10, 2,600 new licenses were issued, and 3,047 renewals were obtained. The revenue received from licenses and renewals in FY 10 totaled $16,941. When considering the cost of staff time and the cost of the license and renewal stickers that must be purchased from the State (approximately $3,000 in FY 10), the cost to administer the bicycle license program greatly exceeds the revenues received.
Alternatives
There are four alternatives to current licensing practices. They are:
1. Make bicycle licenses voluntary and continue current licensing practices;
2. Make bicycle licenses voluntary, and administer and maintain a web-based bicycle licensing and renewal program;
3. Continue to require bicycle licenses, and administer and maintain a web-based bicycle licensing and renewal program;
4. Eliminate mandatory bicycle licensing and related enforcement efforts, and encourage residents to register with the National Bike Registry or other online registry service.
It is important to note that Alternatives 1, 2, and 3 will continue to require a City subsidy.
Recommendations
Given the costs to administer the current program or a web-based program, and the relatively low rate of recovered bicycles returned to owners, staff recommends the City eliminate mandatory licensing and enforcement. Staff also recommends that residents be encouraged to register with the National Bike Registry or other online registry service. Information about the National Bike Registry has been attached.
This matter was reviewed by Chief Assistant City Attorney Heather A. Mahood on January 31, 2011 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on January 28, 2011.
SUSTAINABILITY
The requirement to purchase and maintain a current bicycle license is generally not the practice in cities that are considered bicycle-friendly. The requirement is often unknown to many residents and visitors. It is believed that eliminating the City's requirement for
a bicycle license will encourage more people to ride their bicycles, thus reducing the number of vehicle trips traveled in Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
Eliminating the City's bicycle license program will refocus various staff to core services.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AMENDING LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 10.50 RELATING TO BICYCLE REGISTRATION.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER