Hernandez said the aim is to accommodate up to 7,500 “users” each day, although he did not say how many bicycles would be made available in the initial stages.
The docking stations will link up with major transportation hubs in the city, such as popular Tren Ligero (subway) and BRT (bus rapid transport) stations, he said.
Small, independently operated bike sharing programs have operated in Guadalajara for some time. The Informador newspaper loans out bicycles for use on the Sunday Via RecreActiva car-free recreation program and bikes can be rented from several cafes in the city.
Cycling advocates say authorities must vigorously promote safety in tandem with the sharing program. Cycling fatalities are common in the metro area and many users of the new bikes will be visitors without knowledge of Guadalajara’s torrid streets and avenues.
Bicycle sharing has become hugely popular in many European cities, following the lead taken by the Netherlands nearly a decade ago. London now operates the largest fleet in Europe, with some 10,000 bicycles for hire.
Many U.S. and Canadian cities have either introduced programs or will initiate them shortly.
New York begins bike sharing this month. Operated by Citi Bike, the system will consist of 5,500 bicycles and 300 stations in parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It will later expand to more than 10,000 bicycles and 600 stations.
But even in one of the world’s most sophisticated cities, the introduction of bike sharing has brought its fair share of criticism. “New York roads are not built for cyclists and New York drivers don’t know how to coexist with cyclists,” writes one blogger.
The largest program in Canada is in Montreal, which has more 5,000 bicycles at more than 400 stations. The world’s largest system is in Hangzhou, China, which provides 66,500 public bicycles operating from 2,700 stations.
To compliment the Guadalajara program, Hernandez also promised to invest 20 million dollars over the course of the next seven months to build 26 kilometers of dedicated cycling lanes.
It’s likely that the BRT system on the Calzada Independencia wil be adapted to accommodate some of the lanes. At least eight of the bike rental stations could be situated near the BRT stations.