Bublr Bikes has opened its first kiosk in Red Arrow Park, in downtown Milwaukee. People can rent the bikes for $7/day to $20/month.
By late this month, the non-profit operator plans to open 10 stations around town, including at Cathedral Square Park, the Milwaukee Public Market and the Intermodal Station.
Eventually, the bike-share program intends to reach locations beyond Milwaukee's city center and into Shorewood, Wauwatosa and West Allis, with perhaps 1,000 bicycles available to rent.
The non-profit entity that operates Bublr Bikes is called Midwest BikeShare Inc. It reports raising nearly three-million dollars so far, with about a third coming from local private donors. In order to reach its peak network, planners say they need to generate another three million dollars.