News

Denver bicycle-sharing program hits the brakes

March 2, 2011

Denver cyclists hoping to rent bikes from kiosks may have to walk a little longer.

Denver Bike Sharing has racked its B-cycle program until March 14 to allow officials to test the changes made to kiosks since the program went on hiatus in December.

"We invested a lot into improved screen technology and kiosk intelligence, so we wanted to test everything to make sure it's all working well," said Parry Burnap, executive director of Denver Bike Sharing, in a story published in the Denver Post.

Riders had previously complained that kiosks occasionally dropped connections and were slow to respond.

Burnap said once the 500 fleet of bikes are back on the road, he hopes to keep them pedaling year-round -- if they can afford it.

"We're trying to change transportation behavior, and it sends a mixed signal when we shut down," Burnap said.

A similar program is in the works in Boulder. Boulder B-cycle is hoping to open May 20 with 25 stops and 200 bikes.

Both programs said they plan to set up a reciprocity between the two. Those who have Denver B-cycle memberships would be able to borrow bikes in Boulder and vice versa.

"The goal is that somebody could rent a bike in Denver to get to Union Station, catch the bus to Boulder, and then use that same card to rent a bike in Boulder," Burnap said