Multimillion dollar bike-sharing program planned for University of Michigan and downtown Ann Arbor

Multimillion dollar bike-sharing program planned for University of Michigan and downtown Ann Arbor

By Kellie Woodhouse Higher education reporter
Posted on Mon, Feb 4, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.


The Ann Arbor-based Clean Energy Coalition is developing a bike-sharing program throughout the city, including on University of Michigan's sprawling campus near downtown.

Organizers say the program, which could begin as soon as fall 2013, meets a desire of both the university and the city to have a program in place that allows students, residents and commuters to check out bicycles as they would a Redbox DVD.

Participants will be able to obtain a bicycle at one kiosk and return it at another rack miles away, as long as the kiosk is within the bike share system.

With most bicycle share programs, anyone with a credit card can participate and members often receive an incentive, such as the first half-hour of rental free.

"For it to be really successful, it has to be something that connects the campus and downtown," said Stephen Dolen, director of parking and transportation services at U-M, which has been exploring a bicycle sharing program for years. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-bike-sharing/