The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) and its partners are launching the first carshare and bikeshare programs in the region with a Rise ‘N’ Ride event to showcase clean, affordable transportation options in Stockton with an emphasis on serving its economically disadvantaged communities.
SJCOG’s Stockton Mobility Collective — nonprofit electric carshare and bikeshare programs, mobility incentives, and a workforce development program to train Stockton residents in marketable fleet management and operational skills — officially launches during Rise ‘N’ Ride at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1, hosted by the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The carsharing program is managed by nonprofit electric vehicle carsharing service Míocar and the bikeshare program is known as Bike Stockton and managed by San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD).
Stockton Mobility Collective is funded by a $7.4 million California Air Resources Board Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) grant to SJCOG.
This is the first time the public will get a glimpse at Bike Stockton. A Bike Stockton hub will be located near the library on campus for use by the community. Other hubs in the pilot program initially will be in Midtown and Downtown Stockton, with more coming online in South Stockton later in the spring and summer months. Having the stations at Pacific’s campus helps to anchor the program in mid-Stockton near Pacific and Pershing avenues, the Calaveras River Bike/Walk Path, and a variety of services in the neighborhoods near the campus.
“SJCOG has scaled this project to modernize transportation and optimize travel options in San Joaquin County,” SJCOG Board Chair Robert Rickman said. “It’s through this extensive collaboration with nonprofits and public and private agencies that makes SJCOG a regional leader in implementing sustainable transportation solutions. This pilot program showcases
SJCOG’s core objectives, which include enhancing connections to public transit, providing affordable transportation to disadvantaged communities, and improving mobility and air quality in the region.”
Rickman, also chair of the San Joaquin Board of Supervisors, will be on hand to provide remarks at the launch near Dave Brubeck Way and Atchley Walkway near the William Knox Holt Memorial Library on Pacific’s picturesque Stockton campus. Pacific President Christopher Callahan will be on hand for remarks. The university’s environmental sustainability program, Sustaining Pacific, helped to bring Stockton Mobility Collective’s Bike Stockton to the university.
Rise ‘N’ Ride will have a festive community feel with electric pedal assist bicycles available to test, and information on the Vamos EZHub Mobile app, Bike Stockton, Míocar, and mobility incentives. There will be community organizations, a food truck, raffle prizes and giveaways.
“Through the many years of regional transportation planning, San Joaquin residents have helped this agency navigate and create a transportation system built on equity, efficiency, safety and choice,” SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen said. “Once the project is deployed, SJCOG will monitor electric carshare and bikeshare usage toward our overall goals. SJCOG and project partners hope to see a future where we secure state and federal funding to further scale and replicate this ‘modern mobility collective’ to other communities throughout the region.”
Other dignitaries invited to make comments at Rise ‘N’ Ride include U.S. Rep. Josh Harder’s Senior District Representative Melissa Santos; Jen Gress, California Air Resources Board’s Sustainable Transportation and Communities division chief; Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln and Stockton Councilmember Kimberly Warmsley, both SJCOG Board members; and Stephan Castellanos, RTD Board member.
SJCOG serves as the lead agency for the project and is partnering with several organizations to carry it out: RTD, Institute for Local Government, Míocar, Bike Stockton, Mobility Development Group, Shared Mobility Inc., Sigala Inc., and UC Davis Institute for Transportation Studies. The project is part of California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. Moving California is part of CCI and focuses on increasing education and awareness of clean transportation, while emphasizing program successes and providing guidance on how California residents can benefit and access clean transportation. For more information, please visit www.sjcog.org/SMC.
About San Joaquin Council of Governments
The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) is the planning, financing and coordinating agency for the San Joaquin region overseeing transportation, housing and habitat conservation. SJCOG is a joint-powers authority comprised of representatives from San Joaquin County and the cities of Stockton, Lodi, Manteca, Tracy, Ripon, Escalon and Lathrop. SJCOG’s broad range of responsibilities include managing the Measure K transportation sales tax program, collecting county demographic and economic data, airport land use planning, and regional air quality. SJCOG partners with a network of local governments, private organizations and community groups to deliver a variety of local, state and federal programs that support the streets, roads, highways, public transit, and other transportation resources that help our residents get where they need to be. It is also responsible for assigning each city and the county its fair share of affordable housing. Visit the SJCOG website for more information.