If you have been to Europe in the last few years, you may have noticed new fleets of bicycles in Paris, Barcelona or Lyon, available for short trip rentals. The idea is called bike sharing and it’s taking off like wildfire in Europe (with a new program also in Washington, DC) as noted in this recent NYT article. Early programs like this fulfilled the casual expectation that that bikes would be stolen and/or vandalized. Most programs now, however, have technological components that limit theft (digital keycard with annual fee, first 30 minutes free and beyond that prices go way up — a strong incentive to get the bike securely parked at a station).
Furthermore, it’s a pretty cheap thing to do:
For mayors looking to ease congestion and prove their environmental bona fides, bike-sharing has provided a simple solution: for the price of a bus, they invest in a fleet of bicycles, avoiding years of construction and approvals required for a subway. For riders, joining means cut-rate transportation and a chance to contribute to the planet’s well-being.
The price of a bus! Think of that for a moment, particularly in the context of CAT’s purchase of hybrid buses. Not that this sort of system would eliminate the need for buses, but it sure would be an inexpensive way to reduce congestion and parking problems, especially downtown. Most programs are also funded by advertising, further limiting cost. As we have noted previously, if Savannah could manage something like this, it would add a definite wow factor — great for economic development and tourism.