After a successful year providing transportation to tourists visiting Madison, the city’s bicycle sharing program is planning to expand further across the city to better accommodate its users.
Downtown Madison, Inc. President Susan Schmitz said the goal for Madison B-cycle is to push the service out of the downtown area to span a greater section of Madison.
A statement issued by the City of Madison said the B-cycle program will return April 1 with new stations and bikes and will be available an extra hour until midnight every day.
According to Schmitz, B-cycle currently has locations stretching from Olbrich Gardens to Vilas Park and is looking to reach as far west as Hilldale Mall, located on Midvale Boulevard.
“What’s wonderful about B-cycle is that as long as they’re located close, within a block away, you can go get on a bike and you can determine where you go,” Schmitz said. “It isn’t a set route; you decide your route.”
Schmitz said there is a new mobile application available for B-cycle which notifies users where the stations are located and how many bicycles are currently available at that location.
According to the statement, the app is available on both Android and iPhone mobile platforms.
Schmitz said B-cycle has received extensive positive feedback due to the program’s simplicity. She also commented on the convenience of the bicycles themselves and said they are heavier than normal bikes and stand upright, making them easier to ride.
According to Madison Park Department spokesperson Laura Whitmore, the park division has been very impressed with the B-cycle program. The bikes have been very convenient for tourists, she added.
“It’s perfect because they don’t need to bring their own bike,” Whitmore said. “It’s a very simple and easy way for everyone to get around.”
Whitmore also said B-cycle is unique in that the bikes do not require a lock. B-cycle also provides the option to either purchase a membership or pay by the hour.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said B-cycle emphasizes the bike-friendly community of Madison. B-cycle has been very successful to both tourists and casual travelers, he added.
Resnick also said B-cycle does not cost any money to the city and the program is paid entirely by its owners. He added an agreement between Mayor Paul Soglin’s office and the program allowed B-cycle to use space in the city without Madison taking on part of its revenue.
