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.

A historical election this week, and bicyclists should be reminded that regardless of our political leanings, come January, there will be someone in the top office who has spoken in favor of general infrastructure improvement not only to bridges and highways, but also to transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities:

If we are going to solve our energy problems we’ve got to think long term. It’s time for us to be serious about investing in alternative energy. It’s time for us to get serious about raising fuel efficiency standards on cars. It’s time that the entire country learned from what’s happening right here in Portland with mass transit and bicycle lanes and funding alternative means of transportation.

Time will tell whether economic realities and the vagaries of the process allow this to become reality.  I would offer this, though:  pumping billions of dollars into economic institutions operating on Gordon Gekko’s ideology may not provide any better chance of long term benefit than passing out $600 checks to every American did.

What will, then?  How about reinvestment in our infrastructure?  How  about moving forward with alternative transportation modes and providing real funding?  Surveys have suggested that Americans support spending on these projects, but the reality is that 79% of transportation dollars go to roads, 20% to transit and 1% to walking and bicycling.  Contrast with what Americans would like to see (see figure) and there is a vast disparity.

So stay tuned, as the next stimulus package may include some of this and if not, the renewal of the Transportation Bill is coming in 2009, and we will be watching closely to see whether the words translate into deeds.

Anyone interested in helping kids get more active should consider the meeting at the MPC tomorrow (Mon 10/27) at 10am. As covered in today’s SMN, and previously on our site, GDOT is hosting a meeting to discuss the process for the newly announced infrastructure grants for Safe Routes to School.

We hope that Chatham County will get on board and be able to ask GDOT for long overdue funds to improve sidewalks, crosswalks and bike paths within 2 miles of elementary and middle schools throughout the county. A major obstacle to kids walking and riding bikes to school is their parents’ belief, in many cases well founded, that doing so is too dangerous. The result is all too many arrive in their parents’ cars. With some changes about how we look at the problem, with a systematic approach in all of our public and private schools, we can make a difference, and thus decrease traffic congestion, needlessly used fuel, and childhood obesity all at the same time. The best thing about the program is that if a grant is funded, there is no local cost — the project is fully funded by federal dollars and built by GDOT contractors. Stay tuned for more details, and if you can help, please let us know.

Our local racing contingent, the Savannah Wheelmen, are hosting a ride for the whole cycling community this Saturday at 9am leaving from Oglethorpe Speedway off US80 in Pooler. The slow paced 30 mile ride will be a chance for local cyclists to socialize, and will be followed by lunch back at OSP. If you’re up for a few more miles, you can also leave from Gallery Espresso at 8. Should be a nice event, so I hope everyone turns out — you’ll be better off on a road bike, and helmets are required.

While we’re talking about OSP, congrats to Bryan Schoeffler and the Savannah Wheelmen for a successful event on Sunday at OSP. Cyclocross, the closest thing out there to a bike steeplechase, hit Savannah yesterday with the first Savannah Superprestige Cyclocross Race. We were there, too, and watched the racers jump over fences and ride and run through mud and singletrack on a wide array of different bike setups. The circuit nature of the race and the obstacles make for an interesting viewing experience.

A less daring few of us took a leisurely ride through neighboring Tom Triplett Park for October’s Wheelie, and also did a little goofing on the course with our Bike Safety Czarina, Eve Seibert.

Before I tell you about the Wheelie, here is a reminder about the upcoming County Commission Candidate Forum, co-hosted by Georgia Conservancy and Savannah Bicycle Campaign tomorrow night (Tuesday 10/14) at 7:30pm at the Coastal Georgia Center on Fahm Street.  There was a nice writeup in today’s Savannah Morning News, so I hope you have it on our calendar.

Also for your calendar coming up this weekend:

What do bike racers do when fall comes?  Apparently, cyclocross—a weird mashup of road and mountain biking, running and jumping over obstacles while carrying a bike. So, grab your friends, your family and your bikes, and come out to watch the Savannah Wheelmen’s Cyclocross Race at Oglethorpe Speedway (off Dean Forest Road in Pooler) before our free casual ride at 3:30 p.m. around the speedway and adjacent Tom Triplett Park.  The cyclocross races run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Make a day of it—watch the races, enjoy the belgian waffle stand, and try a little xtracycle surfing. We’ll have some giveaways at the start and finish of our ride.  As always, all are welcome and bring the kids!

Thanks to our sponsors, Big H little h, Georgia Bike Law and Quality Bike Shop!

Rejoice!  If you are a bicycle commuter for a substantial part of your monthly commute, your employer may now provide an up to $20 tax free reimbursement for costs related to your commute — the Transportation Fringe Benefit to Bicycle Commuters was passed as a part of the bailout package.  When you think about it, that has to be a lot cheaper than giving you free parking, especially downtown, so it’s in their interest to provide it.

Obviously, this is mostly symbolic, but it certainly a nice thing to do from a policy standpoint, allowing a tax benefit for people trying to encourage healthier behavior that decreases traffic and pollution.  Kudos to Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer for his work in finally getting this passed after multiple previous attempts for initially introducing and promoting this idea, though he ultimately voted against the overall bailout plan as noted in this NYT article.

From Cyclelicio.us

The benefit — up to $20 per month — begins with the new year in 2009. Employers may reimburse employees, tax free, for “reasonable” expenses related to their bike commute, including equipment purchases, bike purchases, repairs, and storage if the bicycle is used as a “substantial part” of the commuter’s trip to work for the month. If you already receive another commuter tax-free fringe benefit, you don’t qualify, so multimodal commuters are out of luck.