Unfortunately, even if a DC/Boston/Minneapolis-style bikeshare program were to not lose money after a couple years, there would still be a certain number of very loud people who would continue to express their concern that it was a misuse of their taxpayer dollars. Breaking even with a system like that is difficult, even when you sell advertising on the bicycles and the kiosks.

It’s an exciting idea, and the fact that there was even a survey about it is a step in the right direction, but the articles in the Herald about how the system would work and what the costs would be were too vague with too much hemming and hawing about the possible ways of doing this. I see the bikeshare possibility and I think it’s a good thing because I have experience with successful systems in place elsewhere; someone else sees it and they think of a single shack set up somewhere with one person sitting there all day to staff it.

How do you think the program could be made “successful” in the eyes of the majority of Grand Forks residents? Do you think the general benefits of cycling and the choices inherent in having access to bicycles without having to maintain or even keep track of them most of the time will ever be embraced by people here?