Bike Sharing Makes Test Run in D.C.

"Blumenauer is launching a modest pilot program for bike sharing on Capitol Hill. Today, as part of the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., Blumenauer will announce Wheels4Wellness, a program to provide up to 30 bicycles around the Capitol Hill complex for U.S. House employees to check out."

"'You have such a huge concentration of people,' Blumenauer said, 'and so much of the errand running doesn't need to fire up an engine.'"

"Blumenauer hammered out the details of the system with Dan Beard, the chief administrative officer of the U.S. House. The House will select a vendor to provide bikes on self-service racks throughout the House campus. Employees who register for the program can check out the bikes for short trips."

"Bike-sharing programs take advantage of new technology -- using smart cards or cell phone codes for riders to check out bikes from bike shelters. They're funded by advertising, user fees or government subsidies."