Since Denver launched its Scooter and Bike Share Program, micromobility usage has exploded in popularity with more than six million shared bike and scooter trips in 2024 alone. Scooters and bikes can attract new riders in part because they are an undeniably fun way to get around. But micromobility isn’t just a novelty for thrillseekers, it’s an increasingly essential service, particularly for lower-income Denver residents whose transportation options may be limited.
This was a key finding of a study conducted by the Denver Streets Partnership (DSP) focused on the mobility needs of unhoused community members. As the City’s license agreements with micromobility providers Lime and Bird (formerly Lyft) are set to expire next year, now is the time for Denver to ensure this service remains accessible to those who need it the most. In particular, Denver should seek to establish a sustainable funding source for the micromobility affordability programs that tens of thousands of low-income residents have come to rely on.
With grant funding from the Colorado Energy Office’s Community Accelerated Mobility Project, DSP was able to engage more than 100 unhoused community members in focus group sessions across seven different transitional housing sites in Denver. These in-depth discussions shed light on folks’ daily experiences and challenges as it relates to transportation in Denver.
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A significant majority of focus group participants do not have access to a personal vehicle and rely heavily on transit and micromobility to access important services and appointments that are crucial to their daily lives. Missing a health appointment, housing opportunity, or job interview because of inadequate transportation can have drastic implications for community members who are struggling with day-to-day survival. Many transitional housing sites also have time restrictions where if someone does not make it there in time they will not have a bed for the night. When public transit service is infrequent, stops running at a certain time of day, or is just unreliable, shared scooters and bikes play a vital role filling in the gaps.
Almost all focus group participants who use micromobility access the service through the affordability program offered by Lime, referred to as Lime Access, whereby income-qualified residents can take unlimited, free, 30-min bike and scooter rides. According to Lime, about 15,000 residents are currently subscribed to the program in Denver, and account for a significant share of the trips taken each day on Lime scooters and bikes. To ensure the unhoused community and lower-income residents more generally continue to have access to this crucial service without disruption, the City should prioritize establishing a sustainable funding source for this type of affordability program.
A recent analysis by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) noted that affordability is a growing challenge for micromobility programs, and that public funding above and beyond what the private sector is able to offer is essential for ensuring affordable, reliable service. Without public funding, micromobility providers may not be able to sustain affordability programs at a level that meets the need without spending less on other aspects of successful programs, such as maintaining bikes and scooters in a good state of repair and deploying strategies aimed at ensuring bikes and scooters are parked properly without blocking the public right of way.
Virtually all forms of transportation – from highways, to airports, to trains and buses, to bike lanes – receive some form of public subsidy. Directing some of our public investment toward Denver’s Scooter and Bike Share program would help ensure that sustainable, affordable, and reliable transportation options are available to everyone in our community, and particularly to those for whom driving is not an option. Without this funding, a significant number of Denver residents may be left stranded and lose access to an essential mobility service they have come to rely on.
Read our full report to learn more about the transportation needs of Denver’s unhoused community, and the essential role of micromobility in meeting these needs.