Free Bike Program Is Rolling Again in Annapolis

Annapolis's summer bike-loan program, Free Wheelin', which debuted last year, returned last week. Through August, residents and tourists can borrow a beach cruiser, a single-speed bike, for 24 hours at the harbor master's office at City Dock.

This year, the city's Department of Transportation partnered with Capital Bikes, a local shop that is providing and maintaining the bicycles. A staff member at the harbor master's office checks bikes in and out from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cyclists must show a credit card and driver's license.

Free Wheelin' grew out of a desire by Annapolis officials to build the city's reputation as a bike destination and to help tourists explore the area.

"We want to be a state, regional and international bike destination. But chances are tourists did not bring their own bikes. We help people become more mobile and provide an opportunity for them to get out of historic downtown," said Steve Carr, special assistant to Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (D).

Ulric Dahlgren, the Annapolis harbor master, said the program appeals especially to boaters who moor at City Dock and need an easy way to shop for groceries and other supplies.

"It is a really good thing for people who come on boats because they don't have their own cars," he said

Dahlgren said 8,000 to 10,000 boats dock in the harbor during the boating season. The program, which has been operating since June 16, has six bikes, but more might be added as interest grows, he said. Helmets are not supplied but are recommended.

As of last Thursday, bikes had been borrowed 37 times, the harbor master said. In 2007, Free Wheelin' lent bikes more than 75 times from June to August, said Danielle Matland, director of the city's Transportation Department.

Eastport resident Tim Parker has taken advantage of the program twice. Parker, a dog walker and pet sitter, borrows the bikes to get to clients' homes and the Anne Arundel County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where he volunteers.

"You see the city with a different set of eyes on a bike," Parker said. "Riding in a car, you see very little."

Parker owns a bike but said he likes to ride the beach cruisers to train different muscles. Matland said the city's ultimate goal is to add locations to rent bikes and to automate the program.

"Eventually the city would like to put in an electronic system and have 10 different depots," Matland said.

This spring, the District launched a bike-sharing program called SmartBike DC. It is an electronic system that operates in a similar fashion as car-sharing programs such as Zipcar. Participants pay a $40 membership fee and have access to 120 bikes at 10 locations throughout the city.

SmartBike DC is a public-private venture between the District and Clear Channel Communications, which in return for providing the bikes receives free advertising on District bus shelters. Free Wheelin' in Annapolis used donated bikes and volunteers last year. Now, Capital Bikes obtains the bikes, and staff members take care of the logistics.

"We don't do this to make money from a business standpoint," said Parker Jones, owner of Capital Bikes. "We do this because we believe the more bike access that is created in the city, the better the city will be."

For information on Free Wheelin', call the harbor master's office at 410-263-7973 or Capital Bikes at 410-626-2197.