How Members Use Hamilton’s Bike Share System

Since its launch in January 2015, the city of Hamilton’s bike share system, SoBi, has had increasing success. In just two short years, SoBi Hamilton membership has grown to 10,000 active members who use the service from over 100 station hubs spread across the lower city. In order to gain greater insights into SoBi members and see how they make use of the bike share program, a membership survey was conducted using the PlanLocal platform.

The overarching story is one of effective alternative transportation. Among survey respondents, SoBi has reduced private vehicle use, encouraged more active lifestyles, and been embraced across a range of demographics.

Diversity, Sustainability, Satisfaction

• SoBi survey respondents often use the bikes for work and errands, with respondents recording their primary use of the system as commuting (37%), and 22 percent as errands and meetings.
• 35 percent of SoBi member respondents regularly use the service to connect with public transit, including either GO or HSR.
• Over half of respondents (53%) had used SoBi to commute to work or school in the previous month.
• 44 percent of respondents reported driving their vehicle less often (34%) or much less often (10%).
• Most survey respondents (73%) had access to a private vehicle and 45 percent noted that driving a vehicle was their primary mode of transportation.
• Respondent satisfaction with SoBi was very high, with 93 percent responding positively as they were either very satisfied (66%) or satisfied (27%) with SoBi.

• SoBi survey respondents include a variety of household income levels, with respondent income ranging from below $20,000/year to over $150,000. The largest share of ridership was among those households making $60-79,000/year and those making $100-150,000/year, both at 19 percent of respondents.
• Many SoBi survey respondents have post-secondary educations. 67 percent of respondents had four or more years of college or university education, including 28 percent who had completed graduate school. Only 7 percent of respondents had not completed at least some college or university education.

The SoBi Hamilton membership survey has provided a variety of important pieces of information about the service. As the program grows in the coming years, this survey will provide useful insights into how SoBi benefits Hamilton and what can be done to continue offering this valuable service. For more information on this and other PlanLocal engagement, contact us.