U.S. bikeshares have killed a shocking number of people

Grist -- That number is zero: Since the nation’s first bikeshare program launched in 2007 in Tulsa, Okla., 36 U.S. cities have followed suit and started sharing programs of their own. Not a single death has been recorded.

Remarkably, that statistic holds true even in major cities like New York where helmets aren’t provided with bikes, says Barbara Goldberg at Reuters. While there isn’t a central database for bikeshare accidents, Goldberg spoke to a range of transportation experts who confirmed the lack of fatalities.

Accident rates from bikeshares are low, too. In New York, out of 10.3 million Citi Bike rides, only 40 people have required medical attention after accidents [Full article ...]

Newark Principle Planner Mike Fortner poses with the Bike Pottstown (PA) bike share, which may just be the closest system to Newark. It is tremendously successful and sees thousands of trips annually - and Pottstown isn't even a university town. Will Newark ever get on board with a bike sharing?

RideShare's "Show Us How You Ride" contest ends on April 25th

From now through April 25, RideShare Delaware wants to see how you ride!

Take a photo of/on your clean commute (Carpool, Vanpool, Transit, Telework, Walk or Bike) and post it to our Facebook (facebook.com/rideshareDE), tweet us (@rideshareDE), or email your photo to general@ridesharedelaware.org to be entered to win! One entry per person, 2 winners will be drawn at random on April 28th.

• 1st prize: $50 gift card (Your choice - Target, Wawa or Walmart)
• 2nd prize:  $25 gift card (Your choice - Target, Wawa or Walmart)

Spring is a wonderful time to give alternate commuting to work a try!

Poster's note:  For those who don't know, RideShare Delaware is a dedicated service organization for environmentally or budget conscience "green" commuters. You create an on-line account with them for free, and instantly qualify for free prizes and up to 5 rides home if circumstances call for it. You can also begin logging your miles on your own Commuter Log, which features all kinds of neat eco-enviro statistics. Don't miss the action, check out RideShare Delaware today!

University of Iowa Considers Campus Bike Share

When will the University of Delaware get on board?
 
By Vanessa Miller -- Pretty soon, University of Iowa campus commuters might not need to own a bike to use one for quick trips to class, work or anywhere else they want to go.

The university, through its Office of Sustainability, applied in October for a $96,000 grant to implement a “third generation bike share program.” The money would help fund a $120,000 initiative to set up three bike rental stations across campus.

The stations – proposed near eastside student residential housing, by Seamans Center in the central campus area, and by an entrance to the pedestrian mall – each would house 15 docks and 10 bicycles, according to the grant application.

Users could buy annual memberships or swipe credit cards to rent the shared bikes, which officials propose making available by Oct. 30, 2014. B-cycle, a bike sharing system that has launched programs in Des Moines, Madison, Denver and other communities, is among the vendors that could apply to implement the UI program.  [Full story in The Gazette ....]

A Bike Share program in Williamsport, PA. This station operates from the Genetti Hotel.

The Pottstown, PA Community Bike Share operates out of a local bike shop.

Late last Summer, the Blue Hen Leadership Program gave a presentation on bike sharing for the University of Delaware. As could be expected, several malcontents were also present, providing a negative opinion on the idea. There has been no further updates that we know of. Meanwhile, growth of bike share systems in other U.S. cities continues to sore.