Metropolitan King County Council
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Seattle, WA 98104
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July 12, 2010

Phillips supports bringing bike sharing to King County

Council unanimously adopts motion to explore feasibility of privately operated bike sharing partnership

The Metropolitan King County Council today took a step toward joining Washington D.C., Denver, and Minneapolis Paris, Barcelona, and Montreal in giving citizens the ability to “borrow” a bicycle to get around the region. The Council gave its unanimous support to a motion exploring the feasibility of a bike sharing program in King County.

“Bringing bike sharing to King County would give residents another tool for leaving the car behind and getting around by bus, bike, and foot,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, sponsor of the motion and Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee. “Such programs have proven in other cities to be a cost effective, environmentally friendly alternative to congestion.”

Bicycling to work and for recreation continues to grow in popularity in King County as a healthy alternative that also reduces gridlock. Short-term bicycle rental programs have started-up in cities around the world, providing residents and visitors a green alternative for making short trips in urban areas. Locally, staff from the King County Transit Division have partnered with representatives of cities, major employers, cycling organizations and other agencies in developing funding strategies and identifying urban areas of the county where bike sharing might succeed.

The adopted motion expresses the Council’s support for development of a bike sharing program in King County. The proposed program would be privately operated and supported by grants, user fees, and bike station kiosk advertising, without requiring King County expenditures to facilitate the costs of starting up and operating a bike share system.

“As an early supporter of the tremendously successful car sharing program FlexCar—now ZipCar—I envision bike sharing filling a similar mobility niche for the people who live in and visit our region,” said Phillips.
The adopted legislation advances the Council’s priorities of Environmental Sustainability, Mobility for People, Goods and Services, Local and Regional Cooperation and Safe, Healthy and Vibrant Communities.