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MOBILITY - ACTION ITEM: (1) Receipt and Discussion of Presentation Update on Lease a Bike; and (2) Provide Input to Staff and Recommendations to City Council.

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Meeting Date:                     June 30, 2026

Contact/Dept.:                     Seth Contreras, Mobility Planning Manager, Transportation Dept

Phone Number:                     (310) 253-6547

Fiscal Impact:                     Yes [  ]     No [X]                     General Fund:                     Yes [  ]     No [X]

Attachments:                     Yes [  ]     No [X]

Public Notification:                     E-Mail via GovDelivery (06/25/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Mobility Subcommittee, Parking Authority; Notify Me - Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures; Stay Informed - Bicycle & Pedestrian / Culver CityBus / Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures; Culver city Business License List, Economic Development Newsletters

Dept Approval:                     Nick Zornes, Chief Transportation Officer (06/22/2026)

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RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the Mobility Subcommittee (1) receive and discuss a presentation update on Lease a Bike; (2) provide input to staff and make potential recommendations to City Council.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

In July 2025, the company Lease a Bike presented to the Mobility Subcommittee regarding its employee bicycle leasing program. Lease a Bike partners with employers-primarily private-sector organizations-to offer employees access to bicycle leasing options through local bicycle retailers.

Potential benefits of the program include:

•                     Improved employee health and wellness;

•                     Increased convenience by allowing employees to lease bicycles from participating local bicycle shops; and

•                     The potential for increased affordability if an employer elects to subsidize a portion of the lease cost.

The stated goal of Lease a Bike is to support healthier, more affordable, and more sustainable transportation options for employees.

What is Lease a Bike?

Lease a Bike allows employees to lease a wide variety of bicycle types and brands through participating local bicycle retailers. For example, employees may lease bicycles through local partners such as The Bike Center, located adjacent to the Metro E Line Culver City Station.

Lease a Bike markets its program as employee-funded and vendor-managed, meaning employers are generally not required to provide funding or administer the program. As a result, implementation typically does not require direct City expenditures or ongoing program management.

Employers may, however, choose to contribute toward employee lease costs. Data is not currently available regarding the percentage of participating employers that provide financial contributions versus those that do not.

Lease a Bike receives commissions from participating bicycle retailers for customers who enroll in the program. Lease terms are generally available in one, two, and three year options.

Based on information provided by the company, the monthly lease cost for a $3,000 e-bike under a 12-month lease is approximately $230 to $250 per month. For a $2,000 e-bike, monthly lease costs are approximately $115 to $130. Lease payments generally include routine maintenance services.

Staff consulted with the Human Resources Department regarding implementation considerations. Human Resources noted that employee benefits are typically negotiated with labor groups under the direction of City leadership. Additionally, administering bicycle leases through payroll deduction could create additional administrative responsibilities associated with collecting and distributing funds to a third-party vendor. These considerations should be evaluated if the City chooses to explore participation in a bicycle leasing program. Human Resources also noted that, absent an employer subsidy or tax advantage, employees may not realize a direct financial benefit compared to purchasing a bicycle outright.

Other Services

Another company, Wombi, also offers bicycle leasing services and is headquartered in Culver City's Arts District on Washington Boulevard. Wombi provides flexible month-to-month e-bike subscription options that include maintenance services. Pricing is generally comparable to Lease a Bike, although the program structure differs.

Current City Efforts

The City of Culver City's Employee Rideshare Program encourages employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work. The program supports the City's sustainability, mobility, and congestion-reduction goals by promoting public transit, bicycling, walking, carpooling, and vanpooling. The Transportation Department administers the program as part of the City's broader transportation demand management efforts.

Key features of the program include:

•                     Financial incentives and reimbursements for employees who commute by public transit, bicycle, walking, carpool, or vanpool;

•                     Encouragement of transportation choices that reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions;

•                     Support for employees who choose alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel; and

•                     Alignment with the City's sustainability, environmental stewardship, and employee wellness objectives.

In 2025, the Transportation Department also received four e-bikes from the Culver City Police Department for employee use. The bicycles are available for commuting, field work, and travel to off-site meetings. Employees participating in the program are required to complete a waiver agreement. Staff is currently evaluating opportunities to expand access to this benefit for City employees.

Additionally, staff is collaborating with multiple City departments to update the City's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance. As part of that effort, bicycle leasing programs are being evaluated as a potential employer strategy to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and support the City's broader mobility and sustainability goals.

Committee Members may discuss and provide staff with input and guidance as to the City’s current activities, the Lease a Bike program, and other mobility activity options, and potentially make recommendations to City Council.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

Staff does not anticipate a direct fiscal impact associated with participation in the Lease a Bike program, provided the City does not elect to subsidize employee lease costs. Under the vendor-managed model described by Lease a Bike, lease payments are the responsibility of participating employees.

Should the City choose to provide financial contributions toward employee leases in the future, or administer the program through payroll deductions, additional fiscal and administrative impacts may need to be evaluated.

ATTACHMENTS

None.