In a step that's sure to up Madison's bike-friendly status, the city's finance committee approved funding for a bike-share program that could start as early as May.

About 350 bikes and 35 kiosks are being proposed through a program called B Cycle — an arm of Trek Bicycle Corp. — where bicycles are stored in specially designed stations around the city and can be accessed with a credit card.

Madison's Board of Estimates on Monday voted to authorize the mayor to enter into a three-year agreement with B Cycle, with the city contributing $100,000 a year. It also endorsed taking $100,000 from a reserve fund to pay for the first year of the program.

The City Council will consider the program at its Feb. 1 meeting.

"I've already talked to alders who want them in their districts," Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said of the bike transfer stations that would be placed in high-traffic areas, such as Downtown and potentially stretching into neighborhoods beyond the isthmus.

"It will just be a cool amenity Downtown," he said. "There's a certain vibe that comes with this. I think it will bring more visitors to the Downtown."