Unable to find $1.25 million over five years from the local corporate, business, and institutional communities, to match $1.3 million available from the city, B-Cycle has walked away from exclusive negotiations to build and operate a bike-sharing program in Baltimore.
"Any future bike-sharing program in Baltimore is now at least another year away, according to the Department of Transportation," notes Cassie. Although, with the help of a state grant, the city is prepared to help pay for start-up and construction costs of a bike-share system, Baltimore is unwilling to fund its operation. Cassie adds that, "Baltimore City's DOT is currently in discussions with Alta Bicycle Share, Inc., the same company that runs Washington D.C.'s successful Capital Bikeshare, to provide bike sharing here."
