Politics & Government

Atlanta's First Bike Share Program Moving Forward

The program, which is scheduled to launch by spring 2015, is expected to feature 500 bikes at various locations around the city.

Patch Staff Report

The City of Atlanta has an ambitious goal to double bicycle-to-work commuters by 2016 and the city’s first bike share program is a huge step toward achieving this goal.

Mayor Kasim Reed announced Wednesday that the city will begin contract negotiations with the preferred bike-share vendor, CycleHop. On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a resolution to begin contract negotiations between city leaders and the CycleHop team.

CycleHop presented the City with a proposal to launch and manage the city’s first bike share program at no cost to taxpayers. The company will partner with Social Bikes and two Atlanta firms, Center Forward and Iconologic, to operate the program.

The company is looking to attract corporate sponsors and in the coming months plans to meet with communities and businesses to discuss possible bike rental station locations.

In 2012, Mayor Kasim Reed committed to the goal of making bicycling an integral part of daily life for Atlanta residents, workers and visitors by allocating $2.47 million in remaining bond funds to complete several key bicycle projects by 2016. These projects, along with others by the City and its partners, will add 50 miles of multi-use trails, bike lanes, and cycle tracks over the next two years.

“Atlanta will be a leader in the region as we launch an innovative, socially responsible bike share program for citizens and visitors,” said Mayor Kasim Reed in a press release. “Our self-serve, bike rental program promotes my vision to make bikes available to the maximum amount of people in the most cost-efficient manner possible.”

Working together, Cyclehop and Social Bicycles are bringing the next generation of bike share technology to the city of Atlanta. Residents and visitors will have access to rental bikes 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. The GPS-enabled locking system bikes will lock to regular bike racks and those found at hub locations throughout the city.

According to the Alliance of Biking and Walking, Atlanta is currently ranked 18th in cycling to work and 27th in cycling safety. The bike share program is scheduled to launch in the city of Atlanta by spring 2015.

The City of Atlanta has set the following bicycle transportation goals to meet by 2016:

• Doubling the percentage of people who bike to work from 1.1 percent to 2.2 percent
• Doubling total miles of bicycle lanes/cycle tracks to 60
• Doubling total miles of linked shared-use paths to 60
• Securing Silver or Gold Bicycle Friendly Community status from the League of American Cyclists, joining the ranks of Boston and Denver


The City of Atlanta contributed information for this story that was edited for publication.


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