City's Transportation Commissioner Envisions New Bike System
CHICAGO (WBBM) - The man that Rahm Emmanuel brought in as Chicago Transportation Commissioner came from Washington D.C., where he instituted what seems to be a successful bike rent and share program. Now, he is trying it here.
Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein sees the bike program not just as a way to get some exercise and ground level sightseeing. He sees it as part of the city's transit system, linking riders with the end of their public transit rides to their offices downtown or in the neighborhoods. Klein wants regular short commuter use to be free.
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Commissioner Klein's vision of the bike system in Chicago: 3,000 bikes at 300 locations by next year, and 5,000 bikes a couple of years after that. He hopes that rentals and the sale of advertisements will be enough to make the program at least revenue neutral, possibly profitable for the City of Chicago.
