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Those sightseers who have been to a destination such as a beach have most likely encountered a basic bicycle-rental program. There are now sophisticated, automated bike-sharing programs in several metropolitan cities, such as Paris, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Montreal, Denver, and Miami, with upcoming programs planned for Boston and New York City. Even colleges and universities seeking to help their student body become healthier and lighten their carbon footprint are adopting this classic mode of transportation.
How does a department even begin to start a bike-sharing program? And should it develop an automated system or start small with a basic rental system?
Basic Infrastructure
For starters, the people using a bike-share program need a safe place to ride. This may be any venue from a designated bike lane painted on the edge of a road to bike paths.