Dockless Bike Share Program Likely Coming To C-U Fall 2018

An official with the University of Illinois says a dockless bike share program is likely coming to the Urbana-Champaign area in the fall.

The program will allow companies to rent out bicycles in Champaign-Urbana, which users would unlock through a smartphone app.

Since they do not require special docking stations, dockless bike share programs can operate on a larger scale and at a lower cost.

The University of Illinois and the cities of Urbana and Champaign have agreed to establish uniform rules for bike share companies.

U of I Active Transportation Coordinator Lily Wilcock says once these rules are in place, companies can deploy and manage their own fleets of bicycles.

“We’re trying to make a community and promote a community that is sustainable, promotes [a] healthy form of transportation for those that are able to do it, and make it easy," said Wilcock. 

Wilcock says bike-sharing can help reduce traffic congestion a vehicle emissions — benefitting both commuters and the environment.

“The whole goal is to encourage cycling as a form of transportation on campus and in the community," said Wilcock. 

Wilcock says rules for dockless bike-sharing have already been approved in Champaign and Urbana--with the Urbana City Council passing their rules earlier this week.