UPDATE: Boynton Beach City Commissioners have voted to add bike a sharing program.
The program allows companies to set up docks in the city for anyone to come, pay a small fee and rent a bike for a few hours.
Companies that want to bring their bike-share business to Boynton Beach will be able to operate rent-free for two years.
EARLIER STORY:
The Boynton Beach city commission is expected to vote Tuesday night on a new ordinance that would add bike-sharing to the city.
The ordinance would allow companies to build bike-sharing stations around the city.
Currently, West Palm Beach has a bike-sharing program with Sky Bike.
“The idea is to connect people to places,” said Sky Bike General Manager Juan Orellana.
The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority said the bike sharing program has been a success for the last three years for the city.
People can rent a bike for a small fee and return it to the same or another docking location.
“I don’t have my own bike and buying a bike is expensive, so it is nice to rent them for a couple hours,” said Melanie Lagerstedt.
She and her friends were renting bikes to take a tour of downtown, “They haven’t seen West Palm Beach so it will be perfect to show them the city a little quicker than walking.”
The Boynton Beach Mayor Steven Grant said he would like to see more cars off the road.
“We have our Pirate Fest coming up this October, and so I’d like to see more people bringing their bikes,” said Grant.
The city included in the new ordinance that any bike-sharing company can request to bring their business to Boynton Beach. The first two years would also be rent-free for the bike stations.
The commission will vote on the new ordinance during the Tuesday night meeting.
