Mat Barlow realizes the concept behind a citywide bike-share program can be a little intimidating for first-time users.
He knows from firsthand experience after testing out the
Velib system in Paris, a short-term bicycle rental system offering riders more than 20,000 bicycles that can be picked up and dropped off at any one of 1,400 locations.
"It was a little confusing at first to figure it out," said Barlow, special projects coordinator for Boulder-based nonprofit
Bikes Belong. "But it was pretty simple after the first time."
Barlow and others at Bikes Belong, a bicycle advocacy group, are hoping to bring similar programs to U.S. cities. The work begins in earnest during the Democratic National Convention, where the nonprofit is helping launch a bike share program called
Freewheelin.
About 1,000 bikes will be offered during the convention to residents, visitors and delegates at no cost through the program. The bikes can be picked up and dropped off at any one of seven locations -- potentially eight -- in the downtown area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the convention.
Freewheelin is largely modeled after the Velib system, which requires riders to purchase cards at automated kiosks before using the bikes and includes a sliding scale payment system based on how long the bike is used. But since the program is literally foreign to residents of Denver, Freewheelin will be heavily staffed at each of the drop-off and pick-up locations to make it user friendly.
In addition, stations will be set up for minor and major bike repairs.
"It's going to be very customer-service oriented," Barlow said. "We're trying to make it as easy as possible. The number of people we'll have on the ground is targeted at helping guide people through the process."
Though riders are encouraged to sign up prior to the event at
www.freewheelinwaytogo.com, staffers will allow them to register at the booths, he said. A photo ID and credit card will be necessary to check out one of the bikes to ensure none are stolen, he said.
Freewheelin is the largest effort ever undertaken by Bikes Belong, he said. Bicycle manufacturers and companies donated around $500,000 worth of bicycles, helmets and locks to the program, he said.
"It's been a huge collaborative process with members of the bicycle industry," Barlow said.
Bikes Belong is partnering with health benefits provider Humana Inc. on the project in Denver and a similar venture in St. Paul, Minn. for the Republican convention. The hope is it will encourage healthier lifestyles while reducing the amount of pollution produced by cars, Barlow said.
"We want this to be a launch pad to get more bike sharing programs in the United States," he said. "We want to show that this is not just a uniquely European phenomenon, but something that could work here too."