That bike-sharing rental program called SmartBike DC is set to start next month in the nation's capital with 120 bicycles available at 10 spots around the city.
Operated by the Clear Channel outdoor advertising company, it's the first such project in the US and will be similar to other advertising-based bike rental programs in Paris, Lyon, Rennes and Barcelona, Spain.
San Francisco will host a SmartBike program in the future, and Clear Channel is negotiating in Chicago and Portland. London is expected to start a non-advertising subsized program in 2010.
The cost
SmartBike users pay a $40 annual fee, then are eligible to take one of the three-speed bicycles for up to three hours. Users who keep the bikes out longer will receive demerits and could lose the ability to participate in the program, according to theSmartBike story in the New York Times. After 48 hours the user is charged a $200 replacement fee.
For its part in the public-private venture, Clear Channel gets to put advertising in all the city's bus shelters. DC will keep the revenue from the program. Jim Sebastian, manager for bicycle and pedestrian programs in Washington, would eventually like to see 1,000 bikes in use.
Paris launched Velib last summer with 10,000 bikes. Problems experienced early on included bikes left at the bottom of hills because users didn't want to pedal back up. People who pedaled to cafes discovered that all the bikes were gone when they were ready to leave.
The locations
Logan Circle — 14th St, NW & Rhode Island Ave, NW
Metro Centere — 12th St, NW & G St, NW
Dupont Circle — Q St, NW & Connecticut Ave, NW
Reeves Center — 14th St, NW & U St, NW
Shaw — 7th St, NW & T St, NW
Foggy Bottom — 23rd St, NW & I St, NW
ML King Library — 9th St, NW & F St, NW
Gallery Place Metro — 9th St, NW & F St, NW
McPherson Square — 14th St, NW & I St, NW
Convention Center — 7th St, NW & Mt. Vernon Place, NW
Thanks to Jason at The Adventurist
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