Baltimore's First Bike Share Program Rolling Out Soon

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- If you want to ride a bike around Baltimore, but you don't have one of your own, pretty soon you'll be able to rent one.

Charm City is joining in on the national trend, and is on track to get its first bike share program.

The programs are credited with reducing traffic, helping the environment and keeping commuters active.

"It will be a little bit more affordable then owning a car, running the bus things like that," says Jay Decker, Bike Share Coordinator at Baltimore City Department of Transportation. "And it's also an option for people to get recreation."

It starts this fall in the downtown area. About 250 bikes will be available for short-term rental at 25 stations. Those numbers will double the following spring.

"Each bike will be top-of-the line equipped with GPS technology to track it's whereabouts and electric pedal assist which ignites a motor to help you ride the bike easier," says John Friedel, executive director of The Baltimore Station, a therapeutic residential recovery program for veterans.

Veterans will be among the 80 local employees of the program, which is operated by Bewegen Technologies Inc. and Corps Logistics, LLC.

"This is a great opportunity to partner with a local business to provide employment so these guys can get back on their feet," Friedel says.

Soon, the city will host meetings to get the public's input on where the next set of bike stations should go.

For more information, visit BMoreBikeShare.com.

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