NYC's Bike Share Plan Is a Lot Like Zipcar

 from treehugger.com

So are we ready for the next round of grumpiness from the old guard who hates all things bike related? Yes? Great. 

Last week the Department of Transportation announced the country's largest bike share program. It will place 10,000 bikes in designated sharing stations across Brooklyn and Manhattan. That's right! Move over Paris and Amsterdam -- New York City is getting all Euro on your asses. The city says there will be over 600 stations available for people to rent a bike on the cheap. You buy a yearly pass for $100ish, and can use the bikes as often as you want for up to 45 minutes at a time, and can return them to any station. 

The bikes themselves will have GPS and lights (fancy), but are 45 pounds (heavy). The stations themselves will be solar-powered and sponsor-funded. The whole things smack of green.  

People are expecting the shit to hit to fan when the city decides exactly where all these stations will be located. Basically, a battle of the boroughs. Brooklynites are already saying they have the longer commutes and the number of bikes and stations allocated should reflect that because of the 45 minute time cap. 

But fear not FIPS'ters, since Park Slopers had to endure so much crap with the PPW Bike Lane Trial of the Year (and because we have the loudest mouths), we're one of the first neighborhoods slated for a bike share station. But just when we are about to have our parade, down comes a little rain. Brooklyn paper, fill us in!

A cyclist from Park Slope, for example, would not be able to pedal into the city and back in the three-quarter-hour allotment. Instead, she would need to drop off a bike and pick up a new one for the return trip.

Well, that's probably not so much of a big deal. What do you all think? Bike share good? Bike share bad? Who gives a flying? Sound off, fair Slopers.