Nicole Freedman, who was a main force in Seattle’s purchase of the Pronto bike-sharing system, has left for a job in the Boston area.
Nicole Freedman, who led the city’s biking programs and was a main force in the city’s purchase of the Pronto bike-sharing system, has quit to take a job in the Boston area.
Freedman began work at the Seattle Department of Transportation in spring 2015 after several years of leading Boston’s biking program. Her last day was Friday.
She will start as director of transportation for Newton, Mass., later this month.
Freedman announced her departure in an email last week.
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“I am in awe of the SDOT’s drive towards its progressive transportation vision, and of the tireless work from so many staff, advocates, consultants and individuals to help make this vision a reality,” Freedman said in the email.
Freedman, a former Olympic cyclist, was best known for orchestrating, along with SDOT Director Scott Kubly, the city’s $1.4 million purchase of the financially troubled Pronto bike-share program from Puget Sound Bikeshare.
The city’s purchase was controversial. Kubly was fined after violating the city’s ethics code by negotiating with his former company without a required waiver.
The bike-share program’s ridership and membership have lagged since Pronto launched in October 2014.
Freedman also was leading the city’s efforts to expand Pronto after its takeover. The system may go electric, which would mean the city will no longer use the equipment it bought in the $1.4 million purchase of Pronto’s assets.