Bike-share kiosks wheels into Minneapolis
The kiosk system is solar-powered and uses wireless technology to connect kiosks. The program also is lining up business sponsors of individual kiosks.
The bike-sharing program first dangled in front of Twin cities residents at the time of the Republican National Convention in 2008 now is planned to start in June.
No, really.
The Minneapolis portion, which Mayor R.T. Rybak originally hoped to launch last spring, got a key approval by the City Council on Friday.
But St. Paul, which once wanted to establish a similar permanent bike-sharing program, is a non-starter.
Plans call for the Minneapolis program to start with up to 80 kiosks, dispensing up to 1,000 bikes. It will operate in a way that planners say will deter the bike thefts that have plagued some earlier sharing programs. Kiosks will be concentrated mostly in downtown, Uptown and at the University of Minnesota. The city will join some 130 bike-sharing programs globally.
People can pay $60 ($50 for students) for an annual key card, or use a credit card. The system is designed to promote short rides, according to Bill Dossett, who runs the nonprofit Nice Ride Minnesota, which is putting the program in place.
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Posted by staff at February 4, 2010 07:17 AM