Two stories came out recently about small-scale bike sharing operations (ones that make DC's 200 bike endeavor seem enormous). The first one is about New York City, where a gallery lent out a very modest 20 bikes over a 5 day period.
this month the Forum For Urban Design, in concert with Storefront for Art and Architecture have organised a “splashy exhibition of European bike-share programs, running a free-bike-rental experiment, and hosting a design charette.”
Anyone can stop by and take one for a half-hour spin. It's free, but cyclists must provide credit card information to ensure they bring the bike back.
the organising team reckon with the city owning up “that subways are at or above capacity” people might be interested in a scheme that can deliver quick, health-inducing transport that costs less than 50 cents per trip and can be managed via mobile phone calls.
Though done without government support it got the attention of the DOT.
New York City officials, who are aware of Mr. Haskell’s goals, are trying to determine if a ride-share program would work.
“We are studying it with interest,” said Molly Gordy, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Transportation. “The big questions for us are how to combat theft and vandalism, which are two problems prevalent in New York.” Borrowers in the test program have to leave credit card information. Ms. Gordy has been closely following the progress of a bike-share program in San Francisco. Similar programs are being considered in Portland, Ore., Chicago and Washington, where it may begin as early as September.
On a per dollar basis, I doubt any transit line or highway expansion can compete with a bike sharing program.
In Stockholm, Sweden, there are 1,000 bikes and 80 pick-up and drop-off stations for a population of 800,000. In Lyon, France, there are 3,000 bikes and 350 stations. Paris' bike-sharing system is scheduled to start July 15 with 10,000 bikes and 750 stations.
The other is less grass roots, since the DOT is involved, but uses donated bikes and is run out of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Conference and Visitors Center kiosk at the Annapolis City Dock.
Free Wheelin' Annapolis, a program that allows residents to use free bikes for 24 hours, is designed to give people an alternative to cars and ease the congestion commonly found downtown.
Participants must be at least 18 years old. Borrowers simply return the bikes to the kiosk, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, they can use a combination lock to secure the bikes at the Harbormaster's Office.
The program began with four bikes [Annapolis] received in donations. The program will run through Aug. 25.
Sure it's only 4 bikes but, per-capita, that's way better than New York.
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