SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Earlier this year, a fleet of red bikes invaded
the streets of Sacramento seemingly
overnight. JUMP began its 900-
bike rollout in May, and the program has
grown more rapidly in the Sacramento
region than in any other city, according to
a company spokesperson. A 2017 study
by the National Association of City Transportation
Officials cites that the average
American bikeshare program experiences
1.7 rides per bike per day, but according to
statistics provided by JUMP, its bikes experienced
6.5 rides per day in Sacramento
as of September.
The many cyclists leisurely pedaling
Sacramento-area streets anecdotally
proves JUMP’s popularity, but the program
also belies the city’s commitment to
programs and partnerships that will shape
the future of mobility in Sacramento, improve
the economy, and perhaps establish
Sacramento as a new leader in innovative
automotive technology and infrastructure.
“Here in Sacramento, we are rapidly
establishing our city as a testing ground
for new technologies that will improve
mobility for our residents, help fight climate
change and create the jobs of the
21st century,” says Sacramento Mayor
Darrell Steinberg. “We are also a leader
in promoting the use of shared vehicles,
including JUMP electric bikes and new
on-demand shuttles launched by Regional
Transit. Soon, we will deploy the largest
shared fleet of electric cars in the nation.”
That fleet will include more than 400
vehicles between rideshare companies
Envoy and Gig, with rollouts beginning in
November and early 2019 respectively,
thanks to a $44 million Green City
Investment in Sacramento by Electrify
America, a result of Volkswagen’s 2016
multibillion-dollar settlement for falsifying
emissions. Electrify America chose
Sacramento as the first recipient of the
Green City Investment based on three
criteria: city size, mobility fit and potential
impact.
Envoy’s cofounder Ori Sagie agrees
with Electrify America’s assessment that
Sacramento is the right fit for testing zeroemission
vehicle programs.
“As California’s fastest-growing big
city, Sacramento is a great setting to evaluate
the latest mobility solutions. Sacramento’s
growth means there is demand
for car sharing, but it’s still small enough to
be a test region,” Sagie says. “Sacramento
serves as an example for the rest of California,
and for other cities across the nation
seeking to add EV infrastructure.”
According to Jennifer Gress, policy
director for Mayor Steinberg’s office, the
$44 million investment already is drawing
attention, in addition to contracts with Envoy
and Gig.
“Investment begets more investment,”
Gress says. “If we have a lot of activity
here, people want to be close to that. Before
we were even approved as a Green
City, a lot of companies were reaching out
to us. Mercedes wanted to form a partnership
on dealer education on EV, and that
Sacramento is one of two cities where
they’ve launched their EV sales — I think
that is really significant.”
In addition to the Green City Investment,
a recent delegation of leaders from
“As California’s fastest-growing big
city, Sacramento is a great setting
to evaluate the latest mobility
solutions. Sacramento’s growth
means there is demand for car
sharing, but it’s still small enough to
be a test region.”
the greater Sacramento region traveled to
Germany in September to meet with automotive
industry leaders and tour PEM
Aachen GmbH, an innovation hub and incubator
that funds research and prototype
development of innovative technologies by
startups and local university students. Jaime
Lemus, division manager of transportation
and climate change at Sacramento
- Ori Sagie, co-founder, Envoy
December 2018 | comstocksmag.com 87