GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The city plans to spend $100,000 on a study to determine if and how a bike-sharing program would work in Grand Rapids.

Bike sharing programs, which allow riders to rent a publicly available bike for one-way or two-way trips, have become popular in large cities as a means of providing "last mile" transportation to destinations or transit stops that may be too far away for walking.

The study by Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants of Chicago would conduct an analysis and develop a strategic business plan for a program that would make rental bikes available on demand in the downtown area and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Bill Kirk, mobility director for Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., said the study will determine where and how a program could be best administered. The city's Downtown Development Authority approved a $30,000 outlay for the contract this week while the city will pay for the balance.

Sam Schwartz designed and organized bike sharing programs in Chicago and Seattle, Kirk said. The company also consulted with the city on downtown's new master plan, GR Forward and recommended the creation of a bike sharing program costing between $500,000 and $2 million.



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Although Michigan's weather is viewed by some as an obstacle to bike sharing, Kirk noted that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have one of the largest and most successful bike sharing programs in the country.

Jay Niewiek, owner of Spoke Folks, a bicycle shop that operated a pilot bike sharing program in the downtown area for four months last year, said he believes Grand Rapids is ready for a bike sharing program.

Niewiek said he's also glad the city is spending the money to come up with the right plan for a bike sharing program. There are several different business models that offer different approaches to bike sharing, he said.

"I think it's important to make sure they've got the best option possible," said Niewiek, who rented out a fleet of 68 bicycles last year. "There is so much opportunity here."

This year, Niewiek said he rented the bikes to the Kent District Library system, which made them available to library patrons.

DDA member Kayem Dunn said she believes a bike sharing program would help connect the city's outlying neighborhoods to the downtown area.