News: Bike Emory, Georgia Tech Announce Bike Share Partnership
Today Bike Emory announced the creation of a new partnership with Georgia Tech and the Ford Foundation to develop an automated bike share system during a press conference held at Georgia Tech.
Over the past year Bike Emory has been working with a team of Georgia Tech engineering students to develop a first of its kind automated bike sharing system for Emory. Along the way Bike Emory supported Georgia Tech’s winning grant submission to the Ford Foundation for their College Community Challenge award. The award, in the amount of $50,000, was made public for the first time today and will support the development and implementation of the system.
The first fleet of 11 bicycles will be launched on Emory’s campus late this summer. Some of the features of the bike share system are:
A cellular based locking system that will allow users to locate and check bikes in and out with their mobile phone.
Applications for users and managers to track fossil fuels saved, calories burned, vehicle-miles traveled and more.
The bikes are equipped with GPS and wireless communications to automate administrative functions. The bicycles will transmit the location of each bicycle in real-time, communicate maintenance needs and send unauthorized use alerts.
Unlike all other systems, fixed automated bike share kiosks are no longer needed, meaning program operators have unlimited flexibility with locating the bikes wherever their usage will be the highest.
The electrical components of the bikes are pedal powered. Dynamo hubs are used to generate electricity meaning no electricity is required to keep the system running.
Each bike will come equipped with internal shifting hubs, headlights and taillights.
Future plans call for fleets at Georgia Tech and in neighborhoods between both campuses that will integrate with Emory’s system to and will create a continuous corridor of bicycle transit.
According to Jamie Smith, Director of Bike Emory, “It is our vision that this system will be the vehicle, literally, that will change the way students, staff and visitors move about Emory. This new system, combined with cycling road infrastructure improvements already in progress and planned for our area, will transform the Emory area into a premier place to travel by bike in Georgia.”
Stay tuned to the website for future updates.