In September, Alta Bicycle Share—an affiliate of the Portland-based company Alta Planning and Design—was awarded a contract to work with New York City to establish a bike-share program.
Alta Bicycle Share’s goal is to become a leader in designing, deploying and managing large-scale bike-share systems around the globe. The corporation is unique in that it focuses solely upon operating bike-share programs. Alta has established bike-share programs in other cities such as Boston, Washington, D.C. and Melbourne, Australia. In the first year of D.C.’s bike-share program, there were over one million rides.
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Portland may launch bike-share program of its own
In September, Alta Bicycle Share—an affiliate of the Portland-based company Alta Planning and Design—was awarded a contract to work with New York City to establish a bike-share program.
Alta Bicycle Share’s goal is to become a leader in designing, deploying and managing large-scale bike-share systems around the globe. The corporation is unique in that it focuses solely upon operating bike-share programs. Alta has established bike-share programs in other cities such as Boston, Washington, D.C. and Melbourne, Australia. In the first year of D.C.’s bike-share program, there were over one million rides.
PHOTO COURTESY ALTA BIKE SHAREAlta Bicycle Share will offer 10,00 bicycles for rent at 600 stations in New York City beginning summer 2012.
“We could not be more excited to bring our successful bike-share system to New York City,” wrote Alison Cohen, president of Alta Bicycle Share, in an email.
“Bike share is a new form of public transportation that will help connect New Yorkers to their own neighborhoods, to other neighborhoods and to public transit,” Cohen continued. “At the same time, it will make New York City a healthier, cleaner, greener and safer place. Alta Bicycle Share is elated to help make this happen.”
The bicycle share system in New York will consist of 10,000 bikes at 600 stations. There will be three different types of memberships offered: annual, seven day and a 24-hour membership. Members receive a key that unlocks a bike at a station. Rides will be 30–45 minutes in duration before additional fees apply. Each exchange at a station resets the time, however.
Unlike the D.C. and Boston systems, the New York bike-share program will be entirely privately funded. Alta Bicycle Share is currently looking for a sponsor that would be able to make a multi-million dollar, five-year commitment.
The system is targeted for a summer launch next year, ideally in August. According to a representative from Alta Bicycle Share, the New York bike-share program will generate about 200 jobs.
With other major United States cities establishing bike-share programs, concerns have been raised over whether Portland plans to pursue a bike program of its own.
“Portland is working on it,” said Dan Anderson, spokesman for the Portland Bureau of Transportation. “We have applied for federal money for a pilot bike-share program.” After receiving public funding, the next step would be to work with the private sector in order to identify a potential source of private funding, Anderson said.
According to Anderson, with two million dollars in federal funds and an additional two million dollars in private funds, the city would launch a pilot bike-share program. However, planning is still in the beginning stages.
“Bicycling is an efficient, cheap and sustainable way to get around a city,” Anderson said. “It is pretty magical when you can visit a city, thinking you would have to walk or get a taxi, when you can spend a few dollars instead and zip around town on a clean, fun, attractive bike and get some exercise while doing it. It is a great solution.”
As for when Portland may actually see a bike-share program, there is no firm schedule. However, according to Anderson, the mayor would like to have one before his term expires at the end of 2012.
“It makes sense for the most bike-friendly city in America to have a public bike-share program,” Anderson said.
