Bike Share Passes City Council

On Thursday, Philadelphia City Council officially passed legislation authorizing a bike share program in Philadelphia. A Council committee had approved Philly’s bike share program earlier this month.

“I am thrilled with the passage of this bill. Bike sharing is a huge win for Philadelphia on so many levels: health and wellness, tourism and hospitality, the environment and sustainability and so much more,” Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown said in a statement. “There is a huge opportunity for innovation; by studying what has worked in other cities, Philadelphia is uniquely positioned to implement the most comprehensive, effective bike sharing program in the nation.”

Philadelphia’s bike share program will be outsourced to three private companies, with the bicycles coming from B-Cycle, a Wisconsin company. The program is still searching for a sponsor.

“The launch of our system is a tremendous opportunity for businesses to join a growing trend by sponsoring the system and aligning their brand to sustainability, wellness, innovation and enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Philadelphia and visitors,” Mayor Michael Nutter said in a statement. “Every sponsorship investment will support the bike share system and contribute to creating a more vibrant, mobile and healthy Philadelphia.”

Bike share is expected to roll out in 2015.