Madison's Board of Estimates unanimously approved an agreement to create a bike-sharing program in Madison Monday.
The program, B-Cycle, would install and operate the bike-sharing stations. Trek Bike Corporation would donate the capital costs, which range at around $1 million, according to Director of Operations for B-Cycle Danielle Dejean.
If the City Council accepts the proposal, Madison will subsidize the program for $100,000 a year for three years.
The money would come from the contingency reserve fund, where money is mainly used for unexpected expenses. The proposal includes the installation of 35 stations and would bring 350 bikes to Madison in May.
The tentative user fees range from $10 day passes to $65 annual passes, and there is a proposed student annual price of $45.
Users would use credit or debit cards to pay for the passes.
Chicago, Denver and some European cities are among those with bike sharing systems already installed. According to Dejean, in Denver the use of the rented bikes replaced 43 percent of car trips.
""Bike sharing is synonymous with world-class cities,"" Dejean said.
According to Dejean, the city is getting a much better deal than in Denver, which received a discount, but nowhere near the amount proposed for Madison.
""We want the system in our backyard here in Madison,"" Dejean said, mentioning Trek's headquarters are located in Waterloo.
Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, said he would normally oppose these types of programs, but said there are tremendous long-term benefits for the city.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, brought up the issue of the proposed advertisements located on the bike stations.
According to Verveer, there is a Madison ordinance that prohibits fixed advertisements on landmarks such as bus terminals.
The advertisement issue must be solved either through the amending of the ordinance or through B-Cycle changing the signs, before City Council can make the final approval.
The proposal is expected to be heard at the City Council meeting Feb. 1.
