BCycle is a public bicycle sharing company owned by Trek Bicycle[1] and is based in Waterloo, Wisconsin, United States.[2] It has 34 local systems operating in cities across the United States. However, in several cities it operates under a name other than BCycle (i.e., CAT Bike, Red Bike, GREENbike, etc.)[4][1]
Description
The BCycle system consists of bicycles and solar-powered stations positioned throughout a city or region. The result is a slight variation in the system, depending on the city of operation. Such variations can include differences in pricing and operating under a name other than BCycle. Notwithstanding, even though they may operate under different names, their stations will still include the logo with a circled "B" (but perhaps with a different color outer circle). Variations are also affected by the primary sponsors of the local system.
BCycle's 2.0 bike share system in front of the Trek Bicycle headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin.Solar powered Boulder B-cycle station with double sided docks.
Users of the system can purchase annual memberships or just a day or week pass. The system is intended for short trips rather than using an automobile or bike rentals.[5] They can then check out and return bikes at any station in their city.[6] Depending on the local system and type of membership or pass, users can keep the bicycles for 30–60 minutes without any additional charge for an unlimited number of times. Bicycles can be used longer for a nominal hourly assessment. However, if a bicycle is returned to any station, it can usually be immediately checked back out for an additional 30-60 free minutes.[7][8] Another variation is dates and hours of operations. Some systems do not operate at night and some do not operate during the winter months. Notwithstanding the variations, annual memberships are recognized in most BCycle cities in a reciprocity program called "B-connected."[9] The cost of annual memberships vary from US$50 to US$80.
The bicycles used by BCycle were designed specifically for bike sharing by Trek Bicycle.[10]
History
In 2007, the founding partners of BCycle, Trek and health care insurance company Humana, launched their bike sharing venture with the nation's largest ever temporary bike sharing program at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Called Freewheelin, this program made 1,000 bikes available to the delegates at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.[11][12] The programs proved so successful that the Democratic host committee selected bike sharing as a special legacy program to receive a donation to launch the country's first smart bike sharing system.
Following the Democratic National Convention, Trek, Humana and advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky formed B-Cycle, LLC to develop a technologically and visually appealing bike share system. The joint venture worked with a non-profit created to operate the system, Denver Bike Sharing, operating as Denver B-cycle, to launch with 500 bikes and 40 stations in Denver on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.[13][14][15] In 2018, the eighth year of Denver B-cycle, it received a US$400,000subsidy from the City of Denver government.[16]
Controversy and competition
Denver, Colorado
In 2018, controversy emerged on the Denver City Council, with criticism that "B-cycle is mainly in areas where it's white and wealthy and not in neighborhoods of color and working-class neighborhoods where transit is a need."[16] Substantial competition to dockable bicycle transportation has emerged from unsubsidized "[d]ockless bike and scooter companies have flocked to Denver," including Jump bicycles and Lime scooters.[16]
In mid-November 2019, the city announced the end of the B-cycle operation, with 700 bikes and all stations to be removed by the end of January 2020.[17][18][19]
Locations
A 15 dock, solar powered station in DenverMadison BCycle stationPhilly Indego Bikeshare
As of January 2024, B-cycle has bicycle sharing systems in the following areas:[4][20]
^"GREENbike FAQs". greenbikeslc.org. B Cycle. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014. Can I check out a bike immediately after returning a bike? Yes.
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