Bike Sharing Program

Bike Sharing Programs in a City near You

Regardless of people’s opinions concerning sharing the road with cyclists and the laws that govern both drivers and riders, the environmental facts are irrefutable. Bicycles are the greenest mode of transportation available today.

From manufacturing to riding, a bicycle taxes fewer resources and is cheaper to produce and maintain than any other mode of transportation. Some forward-thinking cities are offering bike sharing programs for those times that you need a bike but aren’t interested in buying one.

Eco-Friendly Benefits of Bikes

The amount of energy it takes to manufacture a bicycle is a fraction of what it takes to produce a generic American car. 11,546,658,000 Joules of energy are required to make a 7.2 kg road bicycle with a carbon frame. Contrast this energy use against the 118,284,466,000 Joules it takes to manufacture an American car. This isn’t the only way bicycles prove greener than other transportation options. Bikes also do not create any emissions or noise pollution.

Pollution is more than just exhaust fumes; noise is also part of the equation. In busy cities, the carbon emissions from cars and buses and other modes of transportation are compounded by the noise they emit. Riding a bicycle produces none of these byproducts. Plus, the exercise benefits are significant.

There are media reports every day declaring that America is fatter than ever. Obesity among young people is at an all-time high, and the White House has made nutrition in schools a priority. One of the contributors to the problem is the sedentary lifestyle of the typical American. Riding a bicycle on errands instead of taking the bus or train would combat the inactivity. You don’t have to make a significant investment, though, to reap all these green rewards.

Rent a Bike

Keep the garage door shut and rent a bike! Baltimore is the latest city to announce a new bicycle sharing program through B-cycle, a partnership formed between Trek Bicycle, Humana Inc., and Crispin Porter + Bogusky. B-cycle believes that through bike sharing, the health of the city’s citizens will improve as well as the city’s environment. They’ve already installed bike stations in Denver, Boulder, Chicago, Des Moines, San Antonio, Honolulu, Madison, Omaha, and Spartanburg. Next summer Baltimore will be joining their ranks.

The City of Baltimore plans to install 250 bikes in 30 stations across the city. As with most bike share programs, the first half-hour is free. After that, the cyclist is charged a fee every half-hour or hour to use the bike. B-cycle plans to shoulder the $1.2 million price tag of installing the bike sharing stations and infrastructure so that the City of Baltimore has little to pay for on its own.

There is even talk of beginning a helmet sharing program to accompany the bike sharing. Although still in the planning phases, it’s clear that the bicycle is the green transportation option of the future.

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Chris Keenan is a green and general blog writer. He writes for many sites including Precision Garage Door. Chris also maintains a personal house and garden blog.