Modeled on Paris' wildly popular Vélib bike rental program, Portland plans to offer a fleet of bicycles for rent at kiosks around the city. Similar to the Parisian program, the goal is to get people to use bikes for short trips. Per mile, these are by far the most damaging to the environment when made by car. Increasing the number of trips made by bike will also decrease downtown congestion, and should have a positive effect on citizens' health as well.

The first phase of the program is modest in scope: city Commisioner Sam Adams is looking to begin with a fleet of 500 bikes (compared to the 10,000 available in Paris). Already known as an extremely bike-friendly city (granted gold status by the League of American Bicyclists), the program in Portland is likely to succeed and to grow quickly from there.

Scott Bricker, interim executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance:

People in Portland get around in a lot of different ways and not necessarily the same way every day. There are people who take transit or drive who would be interested in biking to a meeting, and bicycling is the easiest way to get around downtown.

Paris' Velib system offers bikes for free for one half-hour, wth a modest rental fee for additional time. Users must pay a minimal annual membership fee (about $38) and leave a credit card deposit. Bikes may be returned at any of the dozens of kiosks sprinkled throughout the city. The costs are kept low by selling advertising. Portland is asking companies that are bidding on the project to design something similar. The program may also be partially funded by public subsidies.

Via Portland Tribune. Photo via Flickr by ktylerconk

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