Happy new year!
While I still don’t believe that the City of Providence is ready for a full-on bike sharing program (although the local colleges may be), here is another example of people pulling it off in a nearby municipality, Mystic.
The organization behind the program has had over 100 bikes donated already, and over 20 of them are road ready, complete with helmets, baskets, locks, and neon green paint jobs. There are multiple distribution centers around town where a local or tourist can sign one out for a fully-refundable $10 deposit. Support comes from donations and the local chamber of commerce.
As a more tourist-oriented city, Mystic is better positioned for this program. What do you think has to change in Providence before a citywide bike-sharing program can be successful?