SmartBike DC

[2] The program was a public-private partnership between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation and the advertising firm Clear Channel Outdoor, which operated similar automated bike rental systems in France, Norway, Sweden and Spain.

[1] The "computerized bicycle rental program" was included, at the insistence of then DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Dan Tangherlini, in the city's September 2005 bus shelter contract with Clear Channel Adshel.

Annual operating costs of the system were funded by a combination of advertising revenues and user subscription and/or rental fees, and DC received quarterly payments based on membership dues.

[4] New DDOT Director Gabe Klein came into office four months after the program launched eager to expand it, but found the private partner had a "lackluster commitment."

[7][8] Once closure was guaranteed, the program was criticized by The Washington City Paper for its low usage and limited number of bike stations.