An article in Governing Magazine examines why Seattle's bike sharing system has struggled to attract riders and what makes bike share programs thrive.  The article points to several possible explanations for struggles faced by Seattle's bikeshare – including hilly geography, bad weather, and the existence of a state law requiring helmets – but arrives at the low density of the stations as the most likely factor.

The article points to a National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) study, which found that station density to be one of the biggest factors in the success of bike-sharing programs. In that study, NACTO recommends that stations be no more than a five-minute walk apart.