Politics & Government

Wheels Turn on HoCo Bike Sharing Project

The county launched a bike sharing website, asks for feedback.

Would you like to have a bike for a day?

Howard County is exploring the possibility of launching a bike sharing program, which would enable people to use a credit card to rent a bicycle from a self-service station.

Typically, bike share programs around the country charge riders $5 to $10 a day, $15 to $25 a week, $25 to $50 a month or $50 to $100 a year to rent a bike, according to a new website on Howard County's Bike Share Feasability Study.

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The website was made possible by the Columbia Association and Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning through a Maryland Bikeshare Program Grant.

"It is our aim to improve the transportation choices available in the county," County Executive Ken Ulman said. "...we believe that our residents are the true experts on which areas could benefit most from bike share. We look forward to everyone’s feedback and ideas."

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Citizens may provide feedback on the bike share project website, plus get information about the county's bike share study and suggest locations for bike sharing stations on an interactive map.

Do you think bike sharing would be a good fit for Ellicott City? Tell us in the comments!

Previously, Patch readers said they would like bike lanes to make it safe for bicyclists. The interactive map on the bike share project website shows where there are bike lanes and "bicycle friendly roads."

The website will be live until mid-September for citizens to review and comment on the possibility of bike sharing in Howard County, according to a statement from Howard County. 

Consultants from Toole Design Group will incorporate feedback into recommendations for how to proceed, which will be presented this summer, according to Bike Howard.

The Department of Planning and Zoning and the Columbia Association will host a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, to present information about the study and gather public input. The meeting will be at the Owen Brown Community Center, 6800 Cradlerock Way, in Columbia.

Related: Howard County Exploring Bikeshare Potential


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