Miami Beach DecoBike Program

Photo from http://www.decobike.com/

Miami Beach is going greener and providing commuters with an alternative method of transportation to alleviate traffic and facilitate parking.  By the end of summer 2011, the program will offer 100 solar-powered stations with about 1,000 bicycles throughout the city.  The stations will be open 24 hours every day and will be located in commercial and residential areas.

The program is meant for commuters.  The bike rider registers and becomes a member, then pays by credit card to pick up a bike at one location and return it to another dock at a different location.  The rentals run $4.00 for 30 minute periods or $5.00 for 1 hour.  Daily and monthly passes are available for $15.00.  Regardless of the rental period, the bikes must be checked into a dock every 30 minutes.  Since this is a commuter program, the 30-minute check-in rule will allow bikes to be available for other commuters.  The point is for members not to keep the bike all day.

They also have an app for iPhone which finds the closest location and gives an up-to-minute count of available bikes and empty slots for returns.