The basic idea behind the Nice Ride system is to provide affordable access to bicycles for short trips inside the city, as an alternative to taking the bus or driving a car.
It’s not the same as a free “yellow bike” setup where bikes can be picked up and left around anywhere (and vandalized or stolen). The system in the Twin Cities is already paying for itself through a combination of user fees and sponsorships.
An initial informational meeting on Friday afternoon is aimed at getting policy folks, local nonprofits and potential organizational sponsors on board (which is why it’s scheduled mid-day during the work week), but a strong level of public interest is what will really move this idea forward.
Comments on the Area Voices site in response to the DNT article are trending strongly negative. Is the bike share idea really a nonstarter for Duluth-Superior? Feel free to make your thoughts known here if you can’t attend the meeting.
