Sorry for the very late notice about tonight's meeting, but there will be another opportunity at the PBMVC tomorrow night to get much of the implementation information.
B-Cycle - a bike sharing program run by Trek - has approached the City with an opportunity to put in a B-Cycle program this year, as a matter of fact starting May 1. This will allow it to be in place in time for the Congress of New Urbanism in June. But this particular opportunity has just come up in the last week (many of us only found out today), and so the city process is on a very fast track. Here's what's happening: Tonight - Board of Estimates - 4:30 PM - Room 351 of the City-County Bldg: Budget amendment for 2011 (this year's budget) to allocate $100,000 to this program. Also, apparently $100,000 per year for 2012 and 2013 ($100,000 total.) The B-Cycle program normally costs well over $1 million to get off the ground, so this is quite a deal. Here's the link to the budget amendment, if you want to read what they are voting on: http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/Reports/Temp/1242011124924.pdf This item will be at the February 1 Council meeting as well (budget amendment.) Tomorrow (Tues) - Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission - 5:00 PM - Room 201 of the City-County Bldg (that is the Council chambers, not our normal room.) Originally, we were to have a general information presentation on bike-sharing programs and possible ways to implement them in Madison. I have asked that this item be changed so that we can receive information on the specific program and budget amendment being proposed by the City and B-Cycle. This will allow us to make recommendations to the Council, if members want to do so. At both meetings, there will be representatives of the City and B-Cycle to explain how the program will work, some preliminary ideas about where the kiosks will be placed, and other such details. I think there are quite a few details to be worked out on this, and am quite disappointed that this is happening so fast that the public will have little opportunity to find out about the program and comment before the Council commits financially. However, there has been tons of discussion on this list, and in personal conversations about how Madison really should have a bike sharing program. Let's hope all the details can indeed be worked out, and this will end up being the start of something very good. Please attend one of the above meetings for more information, because I don't have any more info myself, and am going to be listening carefully and asking questions as well. Robbie Webber Bike Walk Madison Steering Committee www.bikewalkmadison.org Join our group on Facebook!
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
