FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) June 19, 2014 –Today, City Council passed Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s bill authorizing Bicycle Transit Systems to plan and operate a bicycle sharing program in the City of Philadelphia, and Bicycle to provide bicycles, stations and technology platforms for the system. Bicycle Transit Systems is a Philadelphia based business that has experience operating bike sharing programs in Washington, D.C., Boston and Chicago.
This bill is the result of over 6 years of collaborative research and planning with the Mayor’s Office of Transportation, Bike Share Philadelphia and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. In January 2008, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown called for a joint hearing of City Council’s Committees on the Environment and Transportation to investigate the creation of a Public Use Bicycle Program.
“I am thrilled with the passage of this bill. Bike sharing is a win for Philadelphia on so many levels: health and wellness, tourism and hospitality, the environment and sustainability and so much more,” said Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Chair of the City Council Committee on the Environment. “There is a huge opportunity for innovation; by studying what has worked in other cities, Philadelphia is uniquely positioned to implement the most comprehensive, effective bike sharing program in the nation.” She continued, “I applaud the work of the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Bike Share Philadelphia to expand this program beyond the walls of Center City, into our neighborhoods to offer citizens this new, exciting transportation option.”
“Council’s action today is another important step forward in advancing plans to bring bike share to Philadelphia. My team is ready to begin planning the launch of a world class bike share system,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The launch of our system is a tremendous opportunity for businesses to join a growing trend by sponsoring the system and aligning their brand to sustainability, wellness, innovation and enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Philadelphia and visitors. Every sponsorship investment will support the bike share system and contribute to creating a more vibrant, mobile and healthy Philadelphia.”
In 2013, WalkScore.com ranked Philadelphia as the 4th “Most Bike-able City” in the nation. Philadelphia would join 40 other cities across the United States with bike sharing programs including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, San Diego and Portland, where bicycle transit is embraced as an alternative form of transportation.
The program will launch in spring 2015 with a 60 station/600 bike system in Center City, University City, North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, South Philadelphia and the Navy Yard. Business and communities interested in bike share should visit www.phila.gov/bikeshare.
For additional information, quotes or to request an interview with the Councilwoman, please contact Communications Manager Jason Lewis at 215-686-3438 or 267-250-2925.
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has passed meaningful legislation and supported valuable community programming that positively impacts her core issues: children and youth, women, education, small business development, arts and culture and the environment and sustainability. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown is the only woman to win an At-Large Council seat since 1999.
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