EARLY LAST YEAR, the city was approached by a smaller
bike share company called Zagster. Zagster presented a
model of bike share where they owned and maintained all
the hardware and software associated with the bike share,
and each bike station is sponsored by a public or private entity.
This is different from programs in Denver and Boulder where
the city owns the equipment. This model is much more practical
for smaller cities and was implemented in Fort Collins and
Westminster early last year.
The bike share program is part of a goal to create a safer, more
reliable transportation system in the city.
"The bike share program fills a bicycle rental void in our
community and will allow visitors to access an inexpensive and
healthy mode of travel," says Phil Greenwald, Transportation
Planner for the city of Longmont.
The bike share will also be very beneficial to employees who drive
or take the bus to work, allowing them to use a bike rather than lose
a high-demand parking space or in place of walking to lunch or to do
errands during the day. Bicycling also offers a healthy alternative to
driving for those shorter trips around the city. Longmont is hopeful
that providing easier access to bicycles promotes cycling as a viable
travel choice for more people.
When the program was announced, it was incredibly well received
by local businesses and organizations. Longmont United Hospital
was one of the first to offer support.
"Not only does this improve access to low-cost transportation,
it's also an incredibly healthy alternative to driving," says Peter
Powers, Vice President of Operations at LUH."Partnership on the
bike share program is a natural fit with our mission and commitment
to improving health in our communities."
This month, the city of Longmont launched a brand new bike share program. While it
may not be the first in Colorado, the Longmont Bike Share is one of the first programs
utilizing a new model of operation.
BIKE SHARE
LONGMONT
4 / LONGMONT UNITED HOSPITAL SPRING 2017
