Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
BikeShare Presentation
Lindsey West of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham shares a proposal for a city BikeShare program with the Homewood planning and development committee during their April 20 meeting.
The city of Birmingham announced on Monday that it would begin a BikeShare program with REV Birmingham. The first step in a similar proposal is now on the Homewood City Council’s agenda.
At its April 20 meeting, the planning and development committee heard from the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB), which has been preparing an analysis and proposal of a Homewood BikeShare.
Lindsey West and Scott Tillman of the RPCGB described the potential BikeShare program as a “dense network” of specialized stations around the city offering self-service bike rentals. Residents could pay $6 for a one-time rental or $75 for a year membership. West said the first 45 minutes of the ride are free, but riders will get charged after that point to discourage them from keeping the bikes.
The specialized bike docking system would be locally made and the bikes would include eight gears and a front basket for rider belongings. Some bicycles would include an electronic pedal assist feature. West said Homewood could sell sponsorships or advertising space on the bikes to help pay for the cost.
Birmingham is launching a program with 40 stations and 400 bicycles, as well as workshops and presentations to help residents understand the system. West said a similar structure could work very well for Homewood and fit with the current trend toward “walkability.”
Ward 1 Place 2 Representative Britt Thames said he and Ward 4 Place 2 Representative Heather Reid have been pursuing this idea for a long time. He said a BikeShare program could improve quality of life as well as parking problems across Homewood.
“This fits us so well,” Thames said. “Just imagine if this keeps 10 cars off of 18th Street [South] on a Saturday.”
The next step is a feasibility study, which will provide a recommendation for the program based on the city’s economy, travel and other factors. The RPCGB can provide this study at no cost to the city.
The planning and development committee unanimously voted in favor of this study. It will be brought before the city council on April 27 for final approval.