Columbia residents rally for bike-sharing program

City governments nationwide can request B-cycle.

By Angela Case

Published April 27, 2010

B-cycle, a new citywide bicycle-sharing program launched Thursday in Denver, might roll into Columbia in the future.

As of Monday, Columbia is the third most popular city in an online poll provided by B-cycle to gauge interest in the program. Other areas in the top 10 include Chicago, San Francisco and New York.

To use B-cycle, members pay a fee, check out a bike from a docking station and return the bike to another docking station at the end of their route.

Bridget O'Malley, a representative for B-cycle partner Humana, said Columbia's smaller size would not affect its chances of implementing a program. She said the main criteria for selection of cities is the interest of the city government.

"The cities put out a request for proposal, and B-Cycle will submit their proposal for the individual market," she said. "It's something the specific city, college or corporation has to be interested in doing."

O'Malley said residents who are interested in implementing B-cycle in their community should inform their government officials about the program or sign the virtual petition on the B-cycle website.

Programs provided by another bike-sharing company will be launched in Minneapolis in June and in Boston sometime this summer, O'Malley said. B-cycle plans to expand to areas beyond Denver, but O'Malley said she was unable to discuss concrete dates or locations.

Sarah Ashman, general manager of Walt's Bicycle Fitness and Wilderness Co., said Columbia had a free bicycle-sharing program about 15 years ago. The program, called Yellow Bike, dissolved because the bikes were constantly vandalized.

PedNet representative Michelle Windmoeller said the program consisted of several bikes left around the city for anyone to use.

"It was run by a couple of guys who got some bikes and painted them yellow," Windmoeller said. "The bikes were just kind of left out in the weather, so they got to be not very ride-able."

Ashman said she hoped a more organized program could be successful in Columbia.

"There are several big cities in Europe that have bike sharing programs," she said. "There's no charge, but you have to leave a credit card deposit to use it. I think the only issues are going to be people taking care of the bikes."

O'Malley said the Denver B-cycle program employs four mechanics who oversee the bikes to ensure they remain in good riding condition.

Windmoeller said the program's success in Columbia would depend on where the bike docking stations were located.

"If they were all in our downtown area, that's pretty walkable," she said.

Windmoeller said the program could be especially beneficial to Columbia residents who want to cycle but cannot afford a high-quality bike to get them across town. Additionally, it would allow residents to try out cycling before investing in a bike.

"I can see this being a good stepping stone for people," she said. "They can try it out, see if bicycle commuting works for them."

O'Malley said B-cycle would probably not affect local bike rental establishments because it caters primarily to riders who need a bike for a short trip, rather than for an entire day.

Ashman said a bike-sharing program wouldn't affect rental business at Walt's.

"Most people are renting for the trails for the day," she said. "It's not something that would concern me. I think it would be a good thing for Columbia."