WASHINGTON — Howard County is beginning a pilot bike-sharing program.
“We have partnered with Bewegan Technologies to provide seven stations across downtown Columbia with 70 bikes, some of which will have electric assist,” said Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman at Thursday’s launch event.
Nearly half of the available bikes include the pedal assist feature, and the traditional bikes come with 8 gears.
The station locations are:
- Blandair Park
- Columbia Lakefront
- Howard County General Hospital
- Howard Community College
- The Mall in Columbia
- One Merriweather office building
- Oakland Mills Village Center
A single trip costs $2; a monthly pass is $15 and a one-year membership costs $85. You can buy a pass at one of the stations, or online.
It’s a six-year pilot program, and when it ends the county can choose whether to keep it going, scrap it or expand it.
More than 30 new bike-sharing systems have started up in the U.S. since 2010.
“BikeShare has proven to be an invaluable asset in many ways, including improving safety, the economy, and expanding transportation options,” Kittleman said.