B-CYCLE!

Our G&T class is now learning about a "collaborative consumption" concept, in which we each explored new ideas through websites which connect the Earth by sharing land, products, etc. The concept of collaborative consumption was first brought to my attention through a TED talk done by Rachel Botsman which can be watched here. I was privileged to research B-Cycle:

B-Cycle allows anyone to simply swipe their credit card at a B-Cycle station for 24- hours, or register online to choose a bike from a B-Cycle station and grab a bike and go. Then you simply park your bike at any B-cycle station to return it.

As of now, there are B-Cycle stations located in Chicago, Denver, Des Moines, Hawaii, Louisville, and San Antonio. In order to get B-Cycle into your city, you vote on there website by putting in your zip code.

B-cycle is the only bike-sharing program that measures the actual distance traveled on each ride and keeps track of the calories you’ve burned and the carbon emissions you’ve prevented. All this information is available on your personal B-cycle web page.

B-Cycle was founded by 3 major American companies: Humana, Trek Bicycle Corporation, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky

There’s a membership fee that provides unlimited access to the system for a period of time, or a usage fee that is typically measured by 30 minute increments, making this a profit organization.