Nonprofit awarded $45K to bring shared bike program to Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Midwest BikeShare Inc. has been named one of six recipients for matching grants to make communities more sustainable. Midwest BikeShare Inc. is a newly-formed Milwaukee nonprofit organization committed to bringing shared bike systems to the region.

The Funder’s Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities awarded Midwest BikeShare Inc. a grant totaling $45,000 that will support the planning, installation and overall management of shared bicycle kiosks throughout Milwaukee. 

The Milwaukee-based Brico Fund, along with additional corporate supporters, will match the grant, bringing total commitments raised for Midwest BikeShare Inc. to nearly $500,000 or roughly one third of the funding critical to launch a Milwaukee bike share program.

Through the program, Midwest BikeShare Inc. will install 25 bike rental kiosks and some 250 bike share bikes throughout Milwaukee by the summer of 2013.

Bike share programs allow individuals to pick up a bike from any self-service bike rental kiosk and return it to any other kiosk located throughout the city. With a daily or annual membership, most trips (30 minutes and under) are free.