Houston hires Trek's B-cycle for bike-sharing venture

Trek's bike-sharing business landed another Texas customer earlier this month, when the Houston City Council awarded B-cycle a $105,000 contract to install three kiosks and 18 bikes.

In Spring, B-cycle installed kiosks and bikes in San Antonio, and now has its bike sharing system operating in 10 cities, including Madison. The Trek venture was a finalist for the mega-contract in New York City, but lost out to Alta Planning & Design.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the three kiosks will be installed to whet the appetite of commuters at popular locations. Officials plan to add bikes and rental kiosks as more money becomes available.

In Madison, the B-cycle operation has grown to include 35 locations and 350 bicycles for short-term rental.

Here's how it works: Riders secure a membership, either for a year or 24 hours, then swipe a credit card to pull a bike from a station. Typically, rides 30 minutes and under are free of additional charge. Daily fees start around $5.

The purpose is to provide an alternate mode of transportation for short trips in urban areas and around universities and corporate campuses.