Minneapolis launches America's largest bike-sharing system

Minneapolis launched “Nice Ride,” the nation's largest bike-sharing system to date.  The system includes 700 bicycles and 65 stations or kiosks where riders can swipe a keycard, pick up a bike, and go -- or afterward, drop one off.  Minneapolis is joining Denver, Washington D.C., and a few other American cities trying to cut down on obesity, traffic congestion, and air pollution with bike-sharing programs.

Nice Ride is funded mainly by $1.75 million from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and $1 million from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Riders will pay to use the bikes: a 24-hour pass is $5; a yearly subscription is $60. Chips in each bike track the rider, and lost, stolen, or damaged bikes must be paid for by the user.

The bike kiosks are concentrated in downtown, at the University of Minnesota's campus, and near dining hot spots. The program will be seasonal, with bikes available from April to November.