The Denver B-cycle, a popular bike sharing program introduced in Denver in 2010, currently has an operating season from mid-March through mid-December. But with 60 degree temperatures in January and people still wanting to get outside and stay active, the B-cycle should be made a year-round service.
In fact, the average high Denver temps in Dec., Jan., and Feb. are 46, 47, 49, respectively. That sounds like bicycle weather to me.
The B-cycle system allows members to rent a bike from any B-cycle station, conveniently located all across downtown, in the Cherry Creek and Washington Park neighborhoods, and even at the north end of Driscoll Bridge. They can then bike to any other station and drop off the bike. With a membership card, it takes no longer than ten seconds to hold your card up to the sensor, pull out the bike and ride away.
Additionally, DU is handing out free annual memberships to students at the transportation center (normally a $65 value) which allows students to ride completely free on any ride under 30 minutes (a modest fee applies to rides longer than 30 minutes).
The B-cycle has had an amazing run during its first few seasons. In 2011, a total of 202,731 trips were taken in Denver, up a full 96.9 percent from its inaugural year in 2010. Expansion plans are ongoing at B-cycle, with 30 new stations planned for the 2013 season according to the folks who manage the B-cycle program.
Since B-cycle has developed into a widely popular service for Denver residents, it is time to make it a year-round service. People want to ride downtown and to Cherry Creek on warm and sunny January days as much as they do on April and September days. Any additional revenue generated also couldn’t hurt the further development of the B-cycle system.
With free memberships still available for DU students and a B-cycle station right on campus, students should take advantage of the invaluable service B-cycle offers and support its expansion into a year-round service that can be used winter quarter as much as it is fall and spring quarters.
