A B-Cycle kiosk was just installed in front of the John Hancock Center in Chicago. It’s good to see bike sharing make its way to this side of the Atlantic. I’ve already seen bikes being rented from the kiosk. I think the fact that the bike can be grabbed from a kiosk is critical to the success of the program. If people were forced to go into an office, fill out paperwork, and provide credentials to get their hands on a bike, I don’t think people would be as likely to grab one. The level of commitment at a kiosk is much lower and feels more like you’re grabbing a ride on the go.
I hope this program is successful here. I know the City of Chicago is committed to shifting as much traffic away from cars and to bicycle traffic, as evidenced by their Bike 2015 program. Too bad I moved to the suburbs and can’t use this as a viable way of commuting…