Alta Win Bikeshare in Chicago 400 stations


Chicago enters into a contract with Portland, Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. to run the city's first major bike sharing system with 3,000 bikes at 300 stations, slated to launch in September. Another 1,000 bikes at 100 kiosks will be added next year. 

Source Link

This morning at City Hall, the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee approved an ordinance to enter into a contract with Portland, Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. to run the city's first major bike sharing system with 3,000 bikes at 300 stations, slated to launch in September. Another 1,000 bikes at 100 kiosks will be added next year. The approval paves the way for fulfilling Mayor Rahm Emanuel's promise to create a large-scale bike share system in his first term, a move that could dramatically increase Chicago's bicycle mode share. The full council will vote on this April 18th.

At the committee meeting Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) staff presented the plan to a handful of aldermen. CDOT First Deputy Commissioner Pat Harney, outlined Alta's qualifications for implementing the program, noting that the company runs bike share systems in several other large cities, including London, Melbourne, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C. and Montreal.

Harney also argued that bike sharing will provide a convenient transportation option and health benefits for many Chicagoans. "The Surgeon General Reports that just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day will produce long-term health benefits," he said. "This means that just a quick ride to the train station or grocery store and back several days a week will lead to improved health for many residents."

Array

Capital Bikeshare in D.C. - photo by Jonathan Hawkins

Managing Deputy Commissioner Scott Kubly, who previously worked with Commissioner Gabe Klein to implement bike sharing in D.C. and is overseeing Chicago's program, laid out the details of the new plan. One-year memberships to the bike share system will cost about $75 while one-day memberships will cost roughly $7. Memberships allow an unlimited number of rides under 30 minutes per day at no additional charge, but in order to encourage rapid turnover of bikes, rates for a single ride rise steeply after the first half hour.

In 2012 the service area will be a region roughly bounded by Lake Michigan, Montrose, Western, 15th, Halsted and 43rd Street, designed to focus the system on areas with a high density of residents, retail, jobs and CTA stations. In 2013 the service area will expand north as far as Devon, west to California and south to 63rd. Residents will have a chance to provide input on kiosk locations at three community meetings, via an online request system, and by speaking to their aldermen.

Read rest of article at Source Link
Enhanced by Zemanta

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Staff published on April 15, 2012 8:07 AM.

BufferBox is ready to deliver the goods was the previous entry in this blog.

Resource Point of Purchase Online Network is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Pages