Bikeshare Programs
- Uploader has a undetermined reputation.
Bikesharing, or the short-term rental of bicycles on a one-way or round-trip basis, is by no means a new concept. Several bicycle rental facilities have established themselves as viable business enterprises within the greater Southern California area, and bikeshare programs continue to be implemented on an ever-broadening scale in metropolitan areas throughout the country. Cities as large as New York and Chicago, and as small as Hailey, Idaho (population 7,960) are pursuing bikeshare programs as a means to augment their transportation infrastructure, while addressing congestion, air pollution, and climate change issues.
Advancements in communications technology, especially Wi-Fi and smartphones, are having a dramatic impact on how bikeshare facilities operate. The ability to reserve, gain access to, and pay for a shortterm
bicycle rental using an internet-based electronic transaction is increasingly becoming the industry standard, and in some areas can be accomplished using one's cell phone. Convenience, coupled with a relatively low rental cost, will likely fuel the demand for increased bikeshare availability, especially in
urban areas.
The MSRC seeks to facilitate and promote the implementation, demonstration, or expansion of shared bicycle facilities as a strategy to reduce motor vehicle-generated air pollution. The intent is to promote the use of bicycles as the transportation linkage between the commuter's home or workplace and
public transit stations - the bicycle providing the essential "first and last mile" of connectivity that allows the commuter to use public transportation for their commute.
