It seems this is really starting happen. Jim Sebastian writes to the DC Bicycles list:
DDOT is working with our bus shelter partners, Clear Channel Adshel, to launch an automated bicycle rental system in DC. Similar to car sharing, the system would allow members to swipe a card and release a bike from a kiosk. (Think airport luggage carts).
Clear Channel is operating similar systems in Europe. You can view a photo of the equipment here.
If you read Spanish, you can view the web site for the Barcelona system: www.bicing.com
The contract allows for 120 bikes at 10 kiosks. Research and experience indicate that the kiosks should be located near each other, so we are limiting the system to the greater downtown area.
Some other things to keep in mind as we think about locations:
- Locks will not be provided by the system, so cyclists can only park the smartbikes kiosks.
- Because of the web-based registration and member card requirement, the system is not geared toward tourists.
- We need a space roughly 30 feet by 6 feet for each kiosk, considerable space, but we will scope out the exact site.
- Locations with lots of jobs, housing, retail, major attractions, and nearby bike facilities are obviously best.
We have reviewed census data, discussed locations internally and at our bicycle advisory council meeting, and have some initial ideas, but we wanted to include as much public input as possible. Please take a minute to respond to the survey at this link. It's only 3 questions.
This is a new and exciting project for us. It will be the first of its kind in North America. I know many of you will have lots of questions about the system. Some we have answers to, and some we are still working on. I will do my best to answer them. We hope to have more basic facts up on our web site soon. We will likely talk more about the project at our next bicycle advisory committee meeting on July 11.
We hope to have the first few kiosks installed by the end of the summer, with all 10 in place by next summer.
Eat that San Francisco!
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