Bike Sharing is Growing at a Phenomenal Rate

It seems like bike-sharing just started yesterday, and all of a sudden, it is all over and being used with great

frequency. Some place like Dublin, Ireland and Paris, France seem to be especially smitten w/ the bike share program.

When I looked at the Google/Bike-Share map (link & graphic on left), I was pleased to see that the United States has also caught bike-share fever. The numbers at the U.S. facilities aren't quite as impressive as those in most European locations, but I'm sure our relatively low prices for gas have something to do with that. In addition, the U.S. doesn't have quite the bicycle culture as they do in Europe. Hopefully, that's very gradually changing.

If you get a chance, check out the bike-sharing blog. Join me in a pledge to try out one of your local bike-share stations. I've talked to the folks at the Denver & Washington D.C. bike-sharing programs, but as of yet, I haven't given them a spin. It's on my to-do list for this coming spring or summer.

Bike Sharing is Growing at a Phenomenal Rate

Another blog about Denver B-Cycle

Sorry to keep blogging about the Denver B-cycle program, but I read an interesting article today...

Let me take a step back:

handlebar mounted bike ringer

I have been pleased to see the latest push for free and cheap bicycles available to locals and tourists in major cities around the world. But some people have been less pleased about the development. Just like some politicians say that "trails are a waste of money" some other politicians complain that the bike sharing programs are a waste of money and a (I'm not making this up.) United Nations plot to advance their communistic agenda.

Well, it turns out the bike share programs are a raging success. In fact, the only problem seems to be in keeping up with the growing demand for the bikes. And as far as critics who worry about problems w/ the program, it seems that the biggest problem so far is broken bells.

That's right, broken bells. I guess some people get a little too gregarious w/ their bell-ringing finger.

This is just one more piece of evidence that the new bicycle culture is here to stay.

So grab a bike and hit the trail, my friends. If you don't have a bike to grab, find a bike share program in your area.

Another blog about Denver B-Cycle