BALTIMORE, MD (September 08, 2015) – Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was joined by Department of Transportation Director William Johnson and biking advocate Jon Laria to announce that the City is seeking proposals from businesses or vendors interested in being considered to manage, operate and maintain the Bike Share Program in Baltimore.

“Bike Share is an affordable, healthy and environmentally sustainable addition to Baltimore‟s existing transportation options,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “We are committed to investing in our communities by providing a safe and sustainable transportation system.”

The Bike Share program will provide citizens with convenient, on-demand access to bicycles for short distance trips in the city. Similar to car sharing programs, Bike Share has become an effective mode of transportation for short, point to point trips in urban areas. Bike Sharing is different from bicycle rentals because it is designed for short trips with high turnover by using a fee structure that charges higher rates the longer a bicycle is in use.

These programs have proven successful in many jurisdictions worldwide, including more than 50 cities across the United States. Baltimore will join cities such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Cleveland, Denver, Montreal, London and Paris to provide an effective bike sharing system.

“It is our priority to expand Baltimore‟s network of sustainable transportation opportunities,” said Director Johnson. “The implementation of Bike Share demonstrates our commitment to city communities by providing a convenient, multi-modal transportation system.”

The release of the "Request for Proposals" (RFP) is to solicit proposals for establishing a contract with a vendor experienced in providing management services of a bike sharing system. Phase one of the program will include at least 25 stations and 250 bikes. Proposals for the RFP are due October 21, 2015 by 11:00 a.m. and a pre-bid meeting will be held on September 24, 2015 at 3:30 p.m.

In addition to the RFP, the City also released a „Request for Expressions of Interest‟ (RFEI). This document outlines benefits of the Bike Share program and the potential for advertising opportunities and program sponsorships. Business owners, institutions and community organizations are encouraged to become involved with Bike Share. Letters of Interest should be sent to the Department of Transportation by November 09, 2015. These letters will be used for planning purposes as the city prepares to launch this new program.

Questions concerning the RFP or RFEI should be directed to the Department of Transportation at 410-396-6802.