Pronto Cycle Share + Affordable Housing
With the recent launch of Philadelphia’s Indego Bike Share and The Better Bike Share Partnership, equitable access to bike share continues to be a critical focus of bike share systems spanning North America. From alternative pricing structures to outreach efforts, strategic station placement and cash payment options, systems nationwide are continually exploring relevant ways to ensure everyone in their community can utilize bike share.
From the beginning, we’ve recognized that cost can be a major barrier to entry. To make sure Pronto is affordable to all Seattle residents, we are working on a number of initiatives, including strategic, long-term partnerships with affordable housing providers to offer an annual membership pricing structure based on Area Median Income, or AMI.
We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest partner in our Affordable Housing Program, Bellwether Housing!
“Bellwether’s apartments provide stable places to live for more than 3,200 residents every year,” explains Ray Padilla, Resident Services Manager at Bellwether. “We serve low-wage working people, their families, seniors, transitioning homeless families, and those with special needs.”
“Our apartments, located in Seattle neighborhoods near jobs and transit, support businesses through employment stability and residents’ extra household income being spent in the community. Our communities include low income residents with income under $18,840 annually, and a variety of income levels, primarily families and individuals making between 30% and 80% of the median income in King County.”
“Bellwether Housing is happy to partner with Pronto in providing bike share accessibility to our residents,” Padilla notes. “By partnering with Pronto, our residents are able to access hundreds of bicycles, enabling them to commute to work, or just ride recreationally while promoting a healthy, fit lifestyle. Without our partnership, many residents we serve would not be able to afford the cost.”
Bellwether joins Capitol Hill Housing as our newest partner.
Since 1976, Capitol Hill Housing has built vibrant and engaged communities through affordable housing and community development. Currently, CHH owns and manages 47 buildings across Seattle, serving nearly 2,000 low- and moderate-income residents.
Together, almost 5,000 low- and moderate-income residents in almost 80 buildings across Seattle will now have access to our Affordable Housing Membership program, with annual membership rates ranging between $20-40/year depending on AMI.
We’re continually exploring ways in which we can reduce economic and geographic barriers to bike share through strategic partnerships to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of biking – for public transportation, for health, for fun and all the reasons in between.
If you manage affordable housing units and would like to become a partner, please email Sean at sean (at) prontocycleshare dot com.
Note: Pronto also offers member discounts through corporate & community memberships. Check here to see if your organization has taken advantage of this opportunity. If not, please email us and provide an appropriate contact. We’ll take it from there!
