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The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham has on loan a bicycle from a sharing program in place in Chattanooga, Tenn. A study is being done to determine the feasibility of establishing a downtown Birmingham bike sharing network to reduce congestion and promote exercise.

(Mike D. Smith/msmith@al.com)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Think of it as a possible future commuting option.

Head to downtown and park, just like a normal day.

A quick appointment pops up somewhere else, still downtown but maybe a bit too far to walk there in time.

The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham wants downtown workers to consider this: Resist the urge to get in the car.

Instead, head to a bike sharing station. Buy a day pass, check out a bicycle. Ride to a station nearest your appointment, turn in the bike.

When finished, head back to the station, check out another one and go back to the office.

"It's a good option for 'that last mile,'" said Lindsey West, planning commission deputy director.

The planning commission has contracted with Toole Design Group to study whether Birmingham should join the more than 40 U.S. cities that have begun bike sharing programs.

The concept would be a network of several stations where participants could check out bicycles for up to one hour at a time and return them.

The program would focus on downtown Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Southside areas, West said.

The feasibility study will identify possible station locations and associated costs for users and the overall program.

The study includes a public survey, which can be taken online at

.

The entire study should be complete in December.

"If we're deemed feasible, then they're going to help us with an implementation plan," West said, adding the plan would be done by February.

An early startup cost estimate is about $1.5 million, which would likely be funded by a public-private partnership, West said.

The program's goals would be to reduce congestion by adding a downtown transportation option, promote a healthier lifestyle and boost economic development.

"Statistics have shown that if you're on a bike, you're more likely to stop and visit some of these places," West said of downtown businesses.

Example: Chattanooga

The planning commission has been looking toward Chattanooga, Tenn., as an example. One of Chattanooga's bikes is on loan to the commission. West said she has used it around downtown.

The bike has a sturdy frame with a comfortable seat, a built-on security chain, a compartment to stow a briefcase or bag, and space on the hubs for possible advertising.

In Chattanooga, riders share more than 300 bikes at 32 stations that city's downtown.

Building on a strong recreational sports atmosphere, Chattanooga began to push for increasing the number of people using bikes as transportation.

The city didn't have much of an infrastructure that encouraged bike riding and leaders weren't sure if any was needed said Philip Pugliese, the bike program's coordinator for Outdoor Chattanooga.

"The purpose of this was to put a lot of bikes on

the street and then raise that question," Pugliese

said.

The city scored a $2 million congestion mitigation

and air quality grant from the Federal Transit

Participants can either pay an annual membership fee or buy day passes. Most bike stations are downtown but there is one five miles away which some have begun using as a park-and-ride, exchanging the bikes downtown near work.

In the first year, there were more than 30,000 trips, with an even mix of residents and tourists using the service. That is the equivalent of removing 18,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from Chattanooga's air, Pugliese said.

Measuring success

Usage isn't as intense as some hoped, but Pugliese said he considers that a robust amount for such a car-dominated Southern city.

Maintenance costs are low, but sustained funding is the next challenge. Chattanooga's program is funded by revenue from memberships, daily use and sponsorships. Momentum is growing for advertising on the bikes, Pugliese said.

Still, he calls it a success.

"It's extremely exciting to see people who haven't been active on bikes at all exercising and exploring their city, Pugliese said.

The growth in bike traffic also has had the desired effect of sparking a conversation about creating more bike-friendly infrastructure, he said.

Those are the results West said she believes Birmingham would experience.

The program would complement the changes that have been happening in downtown Birmingham including Railroad Park and Regions Field, she said.

A public meeting has been scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at AIA Birmingham Design Center, 109 S. Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., to get comments on the study and proposed program.