SALEM, MA — Salem was one of the first cities on the North Shore to offer a bike sharing program, and city officials have partnered with a bike sharing company to introduce a more effective system in an effort to grow the use of alternate modes of transportation.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll announced that her office is proposing to partner with bike-sharing firm Zagster to work on a new bike sharing program for the city. Driscoll added that the city hopes to work with Zagster to help create a system that offers better bikes and easier access than the current Salem Spins program. "We started Salem Spins several years ago and at that time we were the only city on the North Shore to offer a bike sharing option," Driscoll added."But without a strong marketing, maintenance and data component, we learned that a 'real' bike sharing program would require an experienced partner."



In her post, Driscoll cited bike share researchers who say that a well-run bike sharing program can help "shift people's mode-share choices, create new cyclists and diversify cycling, while also providing positive economic and health impacts, reducing carbon emissions, congestion and single-occupancy vehicle use." The Salem News reported in September that the planning department set out to recreate and replace the current Salem Spins program and put out requests for proposals from several bike sharing companies. The Salem Spins program currently allows riders to pick up a bike and use it for the day, but return the bike to the same location.

The proposed Zagster program would allow riders to return bikes to hub stations at various locations in the city. Driscoll added that there is an upfront cost of $35,000, but that between 15 and 30 percent can come back to the city in the form of bike sharing fees. Additionally, she added that she expects to have a bike sharing hub at the T-station, the ferry and another downtown location, with others possible depending on usage.

Driscoll added that she hopes to get the program up and running by the spring, pending approval from City Council this month.

You can view Driscoll's full post below.