Bike Share Program A Big Success

In 2007, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the first bike share program began.  There are now programs in 36 cities, including Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco and New York City.  When the program began there was great concern over helmetless riders might be in jeopardy.  The statistics are in, and after 23 million rides, there have been no deaths in the U.S. bike share program.  That's pretty amazing!

When New York's program, sponsored by Citibank, was launched in May 2013, critics and late-night television hosts shared dire predictions for riders, some of who were only then learning to ride.  New York tried to impose mandatory helmet laws, but failed.  In the New York program, only 40 people have been hurt in 10.3 million rides.  Part of good safety record for the bike share program has to do with the bikes in use.  The bike has a very low center of gravity, wide tires and drum brakes that stay dry even in wet weather.

Although most cities do not require the use of helmets, some cities, like Boston, have helmet vending machines.  All in all, the bike share program has been a big success.  It does several very positive things to downtown traffic.  Bike users get some exercise, less cars are on the road, and it is helping the environment with less gas being used and less pollution getting into our air.

I did not know that this program existed until recently, but it certainly seems to be a program with a bright future.  I'm hoping we San Diego adopts this program sometime soon.