By Megan Miller, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — ZYP Bike Share currently has 40 bike stations and 400 bikes across Birmingham, and the trendy program may soon be coming to Trussville as well.
Patrons can rent bicycles from a kiosk for a few hours, a day, a week or even longer periods of time.
“I think Trussville has the perfect topography for this program,” said Council President Anthony Montalto in an email to the Trussville City Council.
Although Montalto said it would take around two years to fully implement the program, it’s something he wants to put up for discussion with the council and community as soon as possible. Montalto said he envisions kiosks at the Trussville Public Library, the Mall, Civitan Park, Magnolia Park, the Sports Complex, the Trussville Civic Center and the upcoming revitalized downtown business and entertainment district.
With the upcoming opening of the Greenway Project, which will connect the existing bike trails in the sports complex, the popularity of riding bikes around the Mall and through the historical project community will become more desirable, according to Montalto.
Lindsey West, the director of ZYP Bike Share in Birmingham, said the success of the program in Birmingham has met and exceeded expectations that were hoped for.
In order to put the program in place, the city has to agree to the project, and a sponsorship has to be secured. Trussville will also work with the Birmingham Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission, to ensure that al planning put in place will make the program successful.
“As a city, we would have to do a study to determine what needs to be done to establish safe bike ways and bike lanes around the city,” said Montalto. “The infrastructure on future road and building projects would need to consider safe bike access areas.”
Montalto has requested that ZYP Bike Share be requested during the upcoming City Council work session on June 14 at 5 p.m.