Portland weighs bike sharing again, plans 2 demos

Once again Portland, Ore., is considering a bicycle sharing program, this time with user fees and better bikes.

Transportation officials are reviewing about 100 bike-sharing systems worldwide. The idea is that citizens swipe a credit or membership card at a kiosk to receive a bicycle. The two-wheeler could be returned to any bicycle kiosk in town, much like a a Zipcar or a luggage cart at the airport.

Portland's free bicycle sharing program in the 1990s collapsed because of theft and vandalism - and the bikes were clunkers. This time, the bikes would be of higher quality, said Steve Hoyt-McBeth, a transportation program manager.

The only U.S. bike-sharing program is in Washington, D.C., which has 100 bikes and plans to add another 900 starting this year. One in Paris has 21,000 bicycles and 150,000 subscribers a year.

Officials hope that two demonstration projects scheduled in Portland for August will give them a close look at a few systems and help gauge public interest.

A program in Portland likely won't come until public hearings are scheduled and the City Council votes on a plan.

The city, however, has no money for the project. The city narrowed in on a vendor last year, then canceled the effort.

The systems run about $3,400 to $4,000 per bike when considering the cost of docking stations, tracking and payment technology and installation costs, according to Hoyt-McBeth. It's uncertain whether user fees would fully pay for operating costs, such as maintenance, theft and vandalism.