Portland moves closer to its bike-share program

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Alta Bike Bicycle Share's Washington D.C. bike share program has been deemed a success. 

Four bike share operators including hometown favorite Alta Bicycle Share Inc. are vying for the right to organize an ambitious bike share program for Portland.

Portland is joining a legion of cities that aim to promote bicycle use by creating transit-like networks of bicycle stations stocked with distinctive, heavy-duty bikes available to members and day users.

Just this month, the U.S. Conference of Mayors called on Congress to enhance federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs, including bike share programs.

“Communities that have invested in pedestrian and bicycle projects have benefited from improved quality of life, a healthier population, greater local real estate values, more local travel choices, and reduced air pollution,” Mayor Paul Soglin of Madison, Wisc. said in an announcement of the resolution.

While Portland has been a leader nationwide in promoting bicycling and creating an infrastructure of bike lanes throughotut the city, its move toward a bicycle share program kicked off this spring trails behind a number of other cities.

Alta, together with B-cycle of Waterloo, Wisc., Portland Bike Station and The Bike Share Group of Seattle, answered the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s call for proposals. The city wants to establish a bike share system by 2013. Thousands of supporters already have suggested locations for bike stations on an interactive map on the bike share website.

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In Portland, officials want to leverage about $2 million in federal funds to establish a city-wide network of stations and interchangeable bikes.