Bike Sharing is up and running in DC-Brought to you by Clear Channel…ugh.

Last week a bicycle sharing program was launched in Washington DC. The system, modeled after the highly successful Velib program in France. This new program, kicked off by making 100 bicycle available for a $40.00 a year membership fee.

Here is an article from the LA times explaining how the system works:

DC Rolls out Bike Sharing Plan to thin Traffic.
By Cynthia Dizikes, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 15, 2008

Read article here.

The bad news is its sponsored by mega-media conglomerate, Clear Channel, the same people who banned the Dixie Chicks for being anti-war. I guess someone has to pay for this and it seems as if they have a full staff to maintain the bicycles. I’m sure this has nothing to do with all the advertising revenue potential from various kiosks set up around DC. It just seems a little weird to have a corporation who constantly supports the Republicans, you know the people who’s policies have lead to a warm planet and inflated gas prices, to now be trying to get more people on bikes. I guess its like Exxon trying to profit off the oil and the alternative fuel. The good news is that there is a new system in America where you can have another option in getting around by bicycle started in the Nation’s capital.

Here is the website for the program: www.smartbikedc.com

Streetfilms went down to DC to check out the new system:

For more info check out this posting at Streetsblog.org

and

Bike-sharing.blogspot.com

on another DC note: Happy Birthday to Gwadzilla Joel, my favorite DC bike blogger.