Just moments ago, Kansas City, Mo., took a giant leap toward a healthy, vibrant and economically sustainable future by passing a resolution to permit the establishment of a bike-share program this year.
Since the first large-scale bike-share programs were rolled out in Washington D.C., Denver, Co., and Minneapolis, Minn., they have been wildly popular with users and helped alleviate the congestion concerns typical to most big cities. Kansas City now joins a growing list of municipalities that recognize when it comes to solving pressing connectivity and health issues, active transportation - walking and biking - is pure genius, for all its simplicity.
BikeWalkKC is partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City to establish the bike-share service, which will be known as BikeShareKC. The two groups will drive development of BikeShareKC by enlisting other leaders in the business community to commit to sponsorships, advertising deals and augmenting employee wellness by subsidizing memberships. They hope to have 20 bike stations and 200 bikes in place in and around the downtown Kansas City area by summer 2012.
The resolution passed by the city council today recognized that "studies have found that Bike Sharing Programs significantly improve public health, encouraging large numbers of participants to use bicycles as part of their daily use and increasing physical activity," and "a bike sharing program would greatly benefit the growing Kansas City tourism industry by allowing tourists to easily and economically get around to the City's different attractions."
There was a double dose of good news for the people and businesses of Kansas City this afternoon - the same resolution also commits the city to increase its bicycle lane network.
The BikeShareKC bikes and kiosks will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, nine months out of the year. Like many existing bike-share systems, the stations will have a smart phone application that will allow riders to find out about bike and station availability in real time.
A little more unique is the tracker that will allow riders to see how far they've ridden, how many calories they've burned and the carbon dioxide savings they've made.
A BikeShareKC annual membership will cost approximately $60. This yearly membership fee permits participants an unlimited number of 30- to 45-minute trips. For longer trips, members will be charged a small, graduated usage fee. Daily and weekly memberships will also be available for those who wish to use the system less frequently.
The BikeShareKC system will be designed to serve as a solution to the final leg of trips for those who use public transportation.
"BikeShareKC will bridge the awkward distances that are too far to walk but too short to drive," says BikeWalkKC Executive Director Eric Rogers. "It will also expand the reach of the transit system by providing new options for the 'last mile'. And it will help clear the air while giving Kansas Citians a new option for being healthy and active."
Congratulations, Kansas City!
Photos of excited locals checking out the BikeShareKC demo station courtesy of BikeWalkKC.
I've ridden thousands of miles throughout this country, and have never run across a more un-bike friendly city than Kansas city. My guess is that this us a waste of money for Kansas city!!!!
really
I've ridden thousands of miles on the streets of Kansas City and have had nothing but positive experiences. Cars slow down and give sufficient space as they inch their way around me. No one honks for me to move out of the way. My bets are that the Bike-share program will be a success.
It's fair to say the word 'hacking' carries with it more negative connotations than positive ones. At
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