Summer of 2009 launches the Denver B-cycle program. Denver will become one of the first cities nationwide to have a comprehensive, citywide bike sharing program. Five hundred bikes will be available to the public at 30 stations throughout the city, and the program is expected to double in size by spring 2010.
Last year Denver was host to the Democratic National Convention, and Greenprint was focused on providing programs that would make it the "greenest convention in history." One such program was an enormously successful bike share project with over 26,000 miles ridden by visitors and residents in just four days. As a result of the project's popularity and success, Greenprint has been working to create a permanent bike share program for our city to enjoy year round.
Denver B-cycle provides a transportation option that enables residents and visitors to have a more interactive and enjoyable experience getting around town, while contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions.
"The positive feedback we received from the bike sharing program during the DNC was remarkable," Mayor Hickenlooper said. "We are confident Denver B-cycle will prove equally popular while improving our fitness levels and our environment. Our 358 miles of bike routes and trails combined with our 300 days of sunshine make Denver the perfect city in which to launch a citywide bike sharing system."
Access to Denver B-cycle will be made through annual memberships sold to residents and frequent users, while daily, weekly ,and short-term usage for visitors and tourists will be
enabled through credit card transactions. While not finalized, the current model proposes to allow the first half hour of Denver B-cycle use to at no charge, with nominal charges thereafter.
The City of Denver is currently piloting Denver B-cycle with its City employees, with donated bikes, stations, and software from Humana Inc. Bicycle Village will provide bicycle maintenance
services at no charge during the City employee bike loaner pilot.