Cities around the world from Copenhagen to Berlin, Barcelona and Lyon have embraced public bike rental programs as global gas prices soar and concerns over global warming from carbon emissions deepen. This is welcome news, since you’d be hard pressed to find a greener mode of transportation - bicycles are the penultimate green transportation: they're cheap, efficient, and emission free. Paris recently initiated its epic Vélib program, supplying its streets with a veritable fleet of 20,000 bikes.
In July 2007, the city of Paris debuted a new self-service "bicycle transit system" called Velib’. Parisians and visitors alike are able to pick up and drop off bicycles throughout the city at 750 locations—offering a total of 10,648 bikes. By the end of 2007, there was a Velib’ station approximately every 900 feet for a total of 1,451 locations and 20,600 bikes.
The Washington District of Transportation has teamed up with Clear Channel for the SmartBike DC program, exchanging advertising space for funds to maintain the bikes and improve upon the system. The arrangement is a boon to congested city districts, since it generates revenue while requiring cities to spend literally “no money on designing, marketing or maintaining” the program.
For a $40 membership fee, SmartBike users are free to rent a three speed for up to three hours at a time. An electronic system monitors the bikes, assuring timely returns and keeping track of lost bikes. If all goes well, Sebastian is hoping to expand the program up to 1,000 bicycles.
Posted by Casey Kazan.
Link:
http://smartbikedc.com/