SmartBike DC
Encyclopedia
SmartBike DC was a bicycle sharing system implemented in August 2008 with 120 bicycles and 10 automated rental locations in the central business district
of Washington, D.C.
The network was the first of its kind in North America, but was replaced by the much larger, publicly-funded Capital Bikeshare
system in the fall of 2010. SmartBike DC officially ceased operations in January 2011.
The program was a public-private partnership
between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation
and the advertising firm Clear Channel Outdoor
, which operates similar automated bike rental systems in France
, Norway
, Sweden
and Spain
. Annual operating costs of the system were funded by a combination of advertising revenues and user subscription and/or rental fees. The program came under heavy criticism for its low rider usage and limited number of bike stations.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The network was the first of its kind in North America, but was replaced by the much larger, publicly-funded Capital Bikeshare
Capital Bikeshare
Capital Bikeshare is a bicycle sharing system that serves Washington, D.C., and Arlington County, Virginia. The stations and bicycles are owned by the participating local governments and operated in a public-private partnership with Alta Bike Share, Inc...
system in the fall of 2010. SmartBike DC officially ceased operations in January 2011.
The program was a public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation
District of Columbia Department of Transportation
The District of Columbia Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of the District of Columbia which manages and maintains publicly-owned transportation infrastructure in the District of Columbia...
and the advertising firm Clear Channel Outdoor
Clear Channel Outdoor
Clear Channel Outdoor , is a company controlled by Clear Channel Communications and is one of the world's largest outdoor advertising corporations. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and has operations in six of the seven continents....
, which operates similar automated bike rental systems in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Annual operating costs of the system were funded by a combination of advertising revenues and user subscription and/or rental fees. The program came under heavy criticism for its low rider usage and limited number of bike stations.