bike share in NJ

The Excellent Wife (TEW) sent me a link to this article about three cities in Hudson County starting a bike-share program.

From the article:

Hoboken's City Council was the first to approve the contract.  Jersey City and Weehawken are expected to have their council meetings next week.

The bicycles, known as “smart bikes,” don’t require docking stations like those in New York City. Instead “smart locks” are built into the bicycles.

If the contract is approved, the system would feature 800 bikes at 50 bike stations, as well as two full-service centers where customers can also rent helmets, biking equipment and tourist information.

Aside from the fact that the bikes are fugly (which may reduce the temptation to steal one), I think it's a good idea that won't work in most of the rest of NJ. Those cities have an urban density that makes a bike share program sensible. Most of Jersey has exactly the wrong density: the suburban sprawl means that people and destinations are too spread out to make a program like this sensible (while at the same time being too developed for most would-beriders to enjoy recreational cycling).

The bikes are obviously intended for short hops, not long trips. Check out the pricing plans:

Expected Rental Costs:
Annual Membership: $95/year

• First 45 min free
• 45 to 75 minutes $2.50
• 75 minutes to 105 minutes $9.00
• Every 30 minutes after $9.00

Weekly Membership: $25/week

• First 30 min free
• Additional 30 minutes $4
• 60 to 90 minutes $13
• Every 30 minutes after $12

Daily Membership: $9.95/day

• First 30 min free
• Additional 30 minutes $4
• 60 to 90 minutes $13
• Every 30 minutes after $12

They certainly don't want these bikes out for hours at a time! (And who wants to ride a grey bike, anyway?)