I worked on this project while employed by BCycle, a bike share company originally a subsidiary of Trek Bicycle and now owned by Revolution (Bicycle Transit Systems). BCycle develops hardware and software infrastructure to support 30+ bike share programs across the US.

Truckee BCycle was set to launch in June of 2023. I assisted the BCycle Implementation Manager with the launch, bringing with me a backpack and a breadth of industry knowledge critical to a time-sensitive project.

The challenges of this project lay in forming long-lasting business partnerships within the Town of Truckee as well as rolling out a turnkey bike share program in a matter of weeks.

Launching this bike share system in Truckee required building trust and awareness within a community that was unfamiliar with the service. Success depended on earning support from local businesses, community organizations, and municipal stakeholders while making the system accessible to residents and visitors alike.

I developed and managed partnerships with the Town of Truckee and local organizations, introducing the bike share program to shop owners, police officers, tourism partners, my favorite local baristas, and more. Together, we distributed promotional cards that allowed visitors to try the service for free, placing them in cafés, retail stores, and other high-traffic locations to increase visibility and encourage system adoption. Throughout the process, I tailored outreach to the needs of different stakeholder groups, strengthening relationships across the community.

These partnerships increased awareness and credibility for the bike share system as trusted local advocates and word-of-mouth promotion spread the good word about the newest way to get around town. These community partners extended the program's reach, encouraged first-time ridership through promotional offers, and established relationships that continued to support the long-term success of the system.

This experience strengthened my ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships and implement programs that address diverse community requirements. To me, the most impactful part was getting to know the locals and fostering relationships that propel the success of the system to this day.

Launching a new bike share system is more than installing stations and putting bikes out on the street. Success requires community engagement, from generating excitement, to education on system usage, to getting curious onlookers to experience the service firsthand.

I partnered with the Town of Truckee to coordinate a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the launch of BCycle and collaborated with Town staff to host an interactive booth at Truckee Thursdays, one of the community's signature events. The booth featured games, promotional offers, and opportunities for attendees to test ride BCycle e-bikes, creating a fun and approachable introduction to the system for both locals and visitors.

These launch events generated community awareness, encouraged first-time riders to try the system, and positioned BCycle as a fun and accessible transportation option from day one. By combining hands-on experiences with community partnerships, I helped build early enthusiasm and generate public support for the program.

Coordinating the physical installation of infrastructure with the technical backend, I ensured every component functioned seamlessly before opening the system to the public.

I supported the end-to-end implementation of the system by testing station connectivity, assisting with station siting, and installing stations throughout the city. I installed GPS trackers on each bike, paired docking stations with the backend software, and conducted system-wide testing to verify hardware and software performance across the board. Once all components were operational, I distributed bikes across the network and enabled the mobile app, completing the final steps needed to make the system available to riders.

This coordinated implementation resulted in a fully operational bike share network ready for public use. By managing both the physical deployment and technical configuration of the system, I helped ensure a smooth rollout and gained hands-on experience integrating hardware, software, and field operations.

Keep Truckee Green

Town of Truckee

Truckee Chamber of Commerce