MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) Folks tested out an urban bike sharing program Tuesday at Government Plaza.
A bike advocacy group in Mobile is pushing to bring B-cycle to the Port City. It's a simple concept: You swipe your credit card and rent a bike to ride around the city.
B-cycle already exists in cities like Denver, Houston and Charlotte. There folks can purchase a day pass or an annual membership.
Tuesday, a station was set up inside Government Plaza for people to look at and even take a bike for a test ride. A few of the city council members took a ride, too.
Bike advocates invited the group to Mobile because they want the city to conduct a feasibility study to see if the program is good fit for downtown.
"B-cycle was present in New Orleans for the Super Bowl festivities. New Orleans is making a good push to get bike share implemented there. We asked them to piggy back a visit and come over to downtown Mobile," said Niklas Hallberg, local bike advocate.
"I think that we are a pedestrian downtown and being able to do it on a bicycle would give people a little more free time to get where they needed to be, at lunch time particularly," said councilmember Bess Rich.
The bike rentals are geared for both locals and tourists.
Tourists may want to rent a bike for the weekend to view the city.
Business folks downtown could rent a bike to take to lunch instead of having to walk or drive.
