The Cincinnati Innovation Team has wrapped up our exploratory stage and launched our first pilot program! Our core transportation and mobility work is rounding a corner and there are big things ahead this summer.

Introducing the E-Bike Incentive Program

National Bike Month may be coming to a close, but biking season is just getting started. We are now three weeks into our new e-bike pilot program, created in partnership with local business the Garage OTR Bike Shop. The program offers interest-free payment plans on e-bikes to help expand affordable, sustainable, and healthy transportation options for Cincinnati residents.

The program has already received attention from local, state, and even national media and community partners. Residents have kept the bike shop busy pouring in for test rides and we look forward to the insights we hope to gain from this pilot.

Visit:

• Our webpage to learn more about the e-bike program
• The Garage OTR bike shop website to view eligible bikes

We aren't the only ones with bike-related news this month:

• Office of Environment & Sustainability has installed bike repair station across the city. See a complete list of location here.
• Want a regular bike or need to repair an old one, visit MOBO.
• You can now find Red Bike on the Transit App!

The i-Team’s core focus is advancing transportation and mobility equity across the city, with particular attention to neighborhoods facing disproportionate challenges. 

After several months of resident and stakeholder interviews and focus groups, our research phase is coming to a close. The lived experiences residents shared with us offer deeper insights than hard data alone. Here are our key insights that explain the who, what, and why of transportation challenges residents report facing. 

Now that we have collaborated with residents to identify common pain points in transportation, we are moving on to what we call the “ideation” phase. Using the insights above, we plan to return to residents and stakeholders to brainstorm potential innovative solutions.  

If the insights above spark ideas and you're interested in joining us for an ideation sessions, please contact Nia Baucke.

In addition to our core mobility work, the i-Team also serves as internal consultants for other City departments. We've also been visiting other cities (and countries) to gain more insights and ideas around transportation.

BuildReady Design Competition

The BuildReady Design Competition has officially launched. Contribute your vision of the future of Cincinnati's multifamily housing by submitting you design between now and August 14th. If design isn't your forte, come September you can vote on your favorite designs from the competition.

Trainings, Tours, & Conferences

The i-Team attended several other trainings, conferences, and learning opportunities throughout the month of May.

I-Team Director, Joshua, traveled with Mayor Pureval to Madrid, Spain for CityLab, a conference of i-teams from other cities across the world.

Civic Designer, Nia, visited the City of Philadelphia and learned about Open Streets events.

Community Storyteller, Rachel, attended the NACTO conference in Minneapolis, MN and took a Safe Routes to School scooter tour.

Interested in collaborating with the i-Team? Contact Innovation Team Director, Joshua Pine at joshua.pine@cincinnati-oh.gov

This Summer also welcomes the first ever Cincinnati Climate Week! June 8th - 14th will be a decentralized week featuring organizations throughout the region who will host in-person and virtual events that spotlight local solutions, share expertise, and inspire a more resilient future. View the calendar to see everything from professional development to family-friendly events. Cincinnati Climate Week includes several key events:

• The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit - the i-Team sits on the Summit planning committee. This year's theme is "Adapt Today, Thrive Tomorrow". Visit the website to view the diverse speaker panels and, one the day of the summit, come find us at the poster session.
• The Green & Healthy Schools Symposium - an event hosted at Rockdale Elementary perfect for formal and informal educators, sustainability professionals, agriculture specialists, green workforce professionals, and more!

Happy Bike Month!