Small Cities Show Bike Share Isn't Just for the Big Boys

"While many of the United States’ largest cities have just started to adopt bike share, several of the country’s smaller cities have been at it for years," writes Matt Christensen. "These nimble cities were among America’s bike share pioneers, and they’ve proven that bike share can succeed with little more than community support, good leadership, and effective partnerships."

The three systems that Christensen profiles show that a nearby college community can help provide a ready population of users. In addition, "Madison, Boulder, and Chattanooga were able to quickly harness community support, build strong ties with city officials and local institutions, and launch successful programs," he explains.