As we've noted here, some of the most popular bike share systems have been victims of their own success, with high use docking stations often full or empty - depending on the time of day. Henry Grabar examines efforts to automate the rebalancing act.
Rebalancing is the most crucial problem plaguing the world's steadily growing portfolio of urban bike share systems, writes Henry Grabar. "The solution is a fleet of trucks and vans that reposition bicycles from what academics call 'attractive' stations to 'repulsive' stations. On the one hand, this is ironic: Bike share is widely praised as a sustainable transit solution but requires the round-the-clock service of heavy vehicles to keep it primed for operation."
"But it’s a crucial element of a successful system. If bike share is to be taken seriously as a transit mode — and its staunchest supporters believe it is an indispensable tool in the planner’s arsenal — it must be able to meet the demands of professional life," he adds. "Every time a user is unable to find a bike or a place to park, the system’s reliability is jeopardized."
Can computerized tools and algorithms solve the problem?
FULL STORY: Bike shares can be perfect!: Solving the commuting algorithm

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
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Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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