The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will may soon be advertising for bids and asking the main WMPO board for its approval to once again try setting up a local bike-share program.
Bike-sharing companies provide an affordable, healthy and environmentally conscious way to navigate a city and are particularly popular with college students and tourists. Bicycles are parked in “stations” and whoever wants to use one may do so by paying a modest sum via an app.
A thriving bike-sharing program can be among a city’s potential attractions for tourists, businesses and university students and are often mentioned in promotional materials sent to printing services.
A number of obstacles have stood between Wilmington and establishing a bike program in the past.
In fall 2017, the city began its quest and in 2018 proposals were gathered and a vendor chosen. A contract was signed with Zagster for an initial 25 stations and 100 bikes with the company expected to secure a title sponsor, which it was unable to do. As a result of its failure to find a sponsor, Wilmington terminated the contract in January 2020.
The city tried again, but just as new proposals were being reviewed the pandemic went into full swing and bike-sharing vendors were not initiating any new programs.
It is anticipated that approval from the WMPO may be requested before February.
