Columbia Bikeshare Program Coming to 7 Locations

COLUMBIA, MD – Bicycles will be available for trips across Columbia in the coming year through a new bikeshare program that will encourage two-wheeled public transportation, local officials announced Friday.

Supported by Howard County government, nonprofit organizations and the business community, the bikeshare is a public-private partnership that will allow for 70 bicycles to be placed at secure, automated docking stations around the city so people can make point-to-point trips.

“Bikeshare has proven to be a key element in creating a vibrant downtown environment,” County Executive Allan Kittleman said in a statement. “It’s a healthy, modern transportation option that is a great fit for our denser, more urban areas."

Bikes will be docked at seven locations in Columbia, county officials said:

• Blandair Park
• Columbia Lakefront
• The Mall in Columbia
• Crescent development
• Howard County General Hospital
• Howard Community College
• Oakland Mills Village Center

The bikeshare program will go live in spring/summer 2017 and continue as a pilot program for at least six years.

Community organizations partnering in the effort include the Horizon Foundation, Columbia Association, Howard Hughes Corporation, Howard County General Hospital, Howard Community College and General Growth Properties (which runs The Mall in Columbia).

The partners are contributing locations for the bikes and/or funding and licensing agreements.

The Horizon Foundation, which invests in health and wellness initiatives in Howard County, will contribute $250,000 in 2016; $100,000 in 2016; and $100,000 in 2017, according to the organization.

"Our goal at the Horizon Foundation is really to make healthy easy in Howard County," Horizon Foundation President/CEO Nikki Highsmith Vernick said. "Riding a bike should be just as easy as driving a car in our county."

County officials say that more than 30 new bikeshare systems have been put into place across the U.S. since 2010.

"We have seen the success of Capital Bikeshare in the Washington region," Kittleman said, "and we expect similar results here in Howard County.”

While the program will not launch until 2017, Howard County will put out the request for proposals for bike share vendors in July, according to Kittleman.

Pictured are a group of Bike Share supporters,County Executive Allan Kittleman and Horizon Foundation President/CEO Nikki Highsmith Vernick. Photos courtesy of Andy Krauss, Horizon Foundation.

See Also:

• Capital Bikeshare Comes to Bethesda
• Bike Police Now Patrolling 90 Miles of Columbia Pathways
• Maryland Ranks 11th Most Bike Friendly State