ATX PostAustin Bike Share Program Rolls Closer To Completion
Photo: MovabilityAustin
Tomorrow’s City Council meeting will see Austin moving one step closer to a city-wide bike share program, when council members are expected to discuss details of a contract that will put 400 rental bikes on Austin streets. The council’s partner in pursuing a fitter, happier, more bike-friendly Austin is a newly-created nonprofit, Bike Share of Austin. Bike Share will contract with the city to maintain 40 rental kiosks in downtown Austin and near popular spots such as Zilker Park for the next five years.
Startup costs for the program are being paid for out of a $1.5 million federal grant received last year, along with money from private donors such as Whole Foods, Cirrus Logic, GSDM, and RGM Advisors. The yearly cost of maintaining the program is estimated to be about $225,000 yearly, according to KEYE. Councilmember Chris Riley told the Austin American Statesman that he expects the program to be relatively self-sustaining once it’s in place: “There’s often a need for public investment up front, but once they make the initial capital investment, systems have been doing pretty well at paying their own way,” Riley said. “But there’s value in a system like this, even if doesn’t pay for itself.”
Other Texas cities with bike sharing programs include Houston and San Antonio. Austin’s program is expected to be similar to San Antonio’s program, B-Cycle. { ...to continue reading this article: Article source: }
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