After two unsuccessful attempts to offer electronic scooters and bikes in the city, Overland Park could launch a new e-bike share program that officials hope will have more permanence. The prospective partnership with regional nonprofit BikeWalk KC, if approved, would be wheeled out ahead of the World Cup next summer. It would be part of RideKC’s metrowide transportation network. Unlike past pilot programs with private companies Bird and Lime that included both e-scooters and e-bikes, this new effort would only bring e-bikes to Overland Park streets. The bike share program would have upfront and annual operating costs associated with it, whereas those past programs were effectively free to the city. However, the city will have more opportunity to recoup those costs by taking a larger share of user fees generated by RideKC bike riders. Last Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee took the first look at the proposed agreement, unanimously recommending its approval. “I think this can be better than the prior programs that we’ve done,” Councilmember Chris Newlin said. Overland Park could get 60 e-bikes to start.
Read more: Johnson County Post
