What is Delaying the Launch of America's Largest Bike Share Systems?

Although for seemingly different reasons, Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share is at the center of delays in launching highly-anticipated bike share programs in both Chicago and New York.

1 minute read

August 9, 2012, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

The past few weeks of news have not been kind to Alta Bicycle Share, the Portland-based company responsible for building and operating new city-wide bike share systems in New York and Chicago. First came news that New York's Citi Bike system, scheduled to launch in July of this year, would be delayed indefinitely due to unexplained software problems.

This week brought news that Alta's bike share program for Chicago, which was supposed to
offer 3,000 bikes for rental this summer at 300 stations throughout the city, has been put
off until next spring, reports Fran Spielman.

Chicago's delay - attributed to planning hurdles - "comes as Inspector General Joe Ferguson continues to
investigate a rival bidder's claim that the bid process was greased for
Alta Bicycle Share, an Oregon company that once hired Transportation
Commissioner Gabe Klein as a consultant."

Alta currently operates the Capital Bikeshare program in Washington D.C. and the Hubway in Boston.

FULL STORY: City’s bike sharing program delayed until next year

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 in Chicago Sun-Times

Transportation Illinois New York Chicago bike share Alta Bicycle Share View More

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