Bike Sharing Rolls Nationwide

2010 may become a tipping-point for bike-share programs with new pilots popping up in Denver, Boston and Minneapolis.

1 minute read

February 3, 2010, 1:00 PM PST

By Tim Halbur


The European concept of car-sharing has taken off in the United States. Will bike-sharing do the same? 2010 will be the first year actual large-scale programs will be open and spinning for customers.

Marketplace lays out the speedbumps for bike-sharing as compared to car-sharing: cycles need more infrastructure, like kiosks, bike lanes, and custom-manufactured bikes with anti-theft devices. That costs money. Boston estimates it will spend $3 million annually for its program. Corporate sponsorships may be part of the funding mix. In Minneapolis for example, you'll see Blue Cross/Blue Shield logos on bikes and kiosks. Subscribers will also get cash incentives to join.

"That's something really important for what we are trying to do," says Minneapolis Bike Share manager Bill Dossett. "We're doing something totally new, people don't know about it. We need to create a market for it."

Thanks to Cathy Duchamp

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 in Marketplace Radio

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

3 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

4 hours ago - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

5 hours ago - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

6 hours ago - CNU Public Square