Citing low usage and minimal advertising revenue, Orange County transportation officials voted this week to end a bike share program in Fullerton.

The decision not to continue a two-year pilot program passed the Orange County Transportation Authority board without opposition at a regular meeting Monday.

Staff estimated the program would bring in more than $300,000 a year. But after nearly a year of operation, there was just $5,370 in revenue from people who paid to ride bikes – and no advertising or sponsorship revenue.

The program had generated 945 bike checkouts after a year of operation, according to a staff report.

“I do believe this particular pilot program needs to be put to rest,” said director Steve Jones, also a Garden Grove councilman. “I’d love to see bike share become a reality in Orange County, but this was a failed attempt.”

A staff report detailed declining usage, “persistent operational issues” including a continuing problem with pay-for locks releasing bikes. The program also aimed for 15 stations with 165 bikes but had only 11 stations and 69 bikes, according to a December OCTA report.

A two year contract with Bike Nation, the company chosen by board members to implement the program, cost just over $1 million and was funded largely by federal and state grants, according to OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik.

The program offered annual memberships for $75 a year, $45 for students, according to the OCTA’s website. Users could also purchase day and weekly passes. But the report showed that after almost a year, only 45 people had signed up for an annual membership. And Derek Fretheim, chief operating officer of Bike Nation, told the board Monday only 17 of them were students.

Fretheim said it was difficult to secure advertising because there was little knowledge of the program and asked for six more months. He told board members the program “really requires an engagement with the community to explain how the program works.”

OCTA had planned additional marketing once it could determine the system was reliable, according to the staff report.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said too many aspects of the program “missed the mark,” including clunky bikes that were difficult to ride and the lack of ad revenue.

“We all really want to make this work,” Pulido said. “I don’t think this model can be made to work.”

Contact the writer: kmejdrich@ocregister.com