No Bikeshare Companies Apply For Kirkland Permit

KIRKLAND, WA — Last month, Kirkland asked bikeshare companies to apply for a special permit to operate in the city. The deadline has now passed, and no bikeshare company applied.

The City Council in late March approved the creation of a special permit for bikeshare companies. Lime and Bird, a scooter provider, had expressed interest, but apparently did not apply for a spot.

The city's bikeshare permit would've allowed up to 200 bikes, and required bikeshare companies to be responsible for moving improperly parked bikes, or face a $127 charge if city staff had to move bikes.

The city conducted a bikeshare survey earlier this year including about 1,000 residents, and a majority, 64 percent, said they wanted bikes in the city. City officials will reach out to bikeshare companies to perhaps restart the process.

"We are currently in the process of reaching out to companies to get feedback so that we can determine how best to proceed," Kirkland spokeswoman Kellie Stickney said.