Chattanooga Public Bicycle Share System Delayed

October 21, 2011 4:18 PM

Chattanooga, TN - Outdoor Chattanooga, a division of the City of Chattanooga's Department of Parks & Recreation, announced today that the Bike Chattanooga public bicycle transit system will delay opening until 2012.

Originally scheduled for launch in 2011, the 300 bike, 30 station system is to be installed and operated by Alta Bicycle Share of Portland, Oregon. Alta Bicycle Share designs, deploys, and manages bike sharing systems globally. Current programs include New Balance Hubway in Boston, MA; Capital Bikeshare in Washington, D.C./Arlington, VA; and Melbourne Bike Share in Australia. Public Bike System Company (PBSC or "Bixi") is Alta's exclusive supplier of bikes and equipment in the U.S.

Funded through a $2 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant, the program has faced challenges with Buy America and FTA protocols. Philip Pugliese, Bicycle Coordinator with Outdoor Chattanooga, said, "We believe that Alta Bicycle Share will ultimately provide the most technologically advanced system with features such as an on-board GPS system for each bike," said Pugliese. "We know how excited everyone is to see bike share in Chattanooga, and we are disappointed that we are behind schedule. Nevertheless, community support for the project remains strong," Pugliese commented. "When we explain how bicycle sharing works, people get incredibly excited," says Outdoor Chattanooga Executive Director Philip Grymes. "This bicycle transit system is going to transform the way people get around downtown Chattanooga." Similar systems in Paris, London, Montreal and other international cities have proven popular beyond expectations, especially with tourists and commuters. "Of course we're disappointed that Bike Chattanooga will be delayed," says John Karr, board chairman for the Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga, the Outdoor Chattanooga division's 501c3 supporting organization. "We fully expect Alta Bicycle Share to deliver a first rate system in the spring."

Bike Chattanooga is a membership driven system that enables both residents and visitors to move around downtown in a sustainable, healthy, and fun manner. Fees will be affordable, costing $75 for an annual membership or $6 for a 24-hour membership. All users will be entitled to an unlimited number of free 0 to 60-minute trips within each membership period. Additional fees apply if a trip is over one hour long at a rate of $5 per additional half hour. The pricing structure, which is similar to other bike share systems, is designed to encourage the public to use the bikes for short trips.

Chattanooga, TN – Outdoor Chattanooga, a division of the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Parks & Recreation, announced today that the Bike Chattanooga public bicycle transit system will delay opening until 2012.

Originally scheduled for launch in 2011, the 300 bike, 30 station system is to be installed and operated by Alta Bicycle Share of Portland, Oregon. Alta Bicycle Share designs, deploys, and manages bike sharing systems globally. Current programs include New Balance Hubway in Boston, MA; Capital Bikeshare in Washington, D.C./Arlington, VA; and Melbourne Bike Share in Australia. Public Bike System Company (PBSC or “Bixi”) is Alta’s exclusive supplier of bikes and equipment in the U.S.

Funded through a $2 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant, the program has faced challenges with Buy America and FTA protocols. Philip Pugliese, Bicycle Coordinator with Outdoor Chattanooga, said, “We believe that Alta Bicycle Share will ultimately provide the most technologically advanced system with features such as an on-board GPS system for each bike,” said Pugliese. “We know how excited everyone is to see bike share in Chattanooga, and we are disappointed that we are behind schedule. Nevertheless, community support for the project remains strong,” Pugliese commented.

“When we explain how bicycle sharing works, people get incredibly excited,” says Outdoor Chattanooga Executive Director Philip Grymes. “This bicycle transit system is going to transform the way people get around downtown Chattanooga.”

Similar systems in Paris, London, Montreal and other international cities have proven popular beyond expectations, especially with tourists and commuters.

“Of course we’re disappointed that Bike Chattanooga will be delayed,” says John Karr, board chairman for the Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga, the Outdoor Chattanooga division’s 501c3 supporting organization. “We fully expect Alta Bicycle Share to deliver a first rate system in the spring.”

Bike Chattanooga is a membership driven system that enables both residents and visitors to move around downtown in a sustainable, healthy, and fun manner. Fees will be affordable, costing $75 for an annual membership or $6 for a 24-hour membership. All users will be entitled to an unlimited number of free 0 to 60-minute trips within each membership period. Additional fees apply if a trip is over one hour long at a rate of $5 per additional half hour. The pricing structure, which is similar to other bike share systems, is designed to encourage the public to use the bikes for short trips.