Could we please have a story on what this all costs? Is this program paying for itself, or losing money without all the sponsors?

They should not have made it public the people who use the bikes know about it and now the idiots that steal bikes know about it

I've attended a few meetings on the topic. As of fall 2011, I was told that 70% of the program is paid through daily/yearly memberships. A lot comes in through individual companies paying for a station at a particular location (like at various spots at the U of M), at the tune of $10,000 per station per year. I imagine 10-25% are paid that way. I think some start-up costs came through smoking funds via BCBC.

Really minn12 you are worried about the cost of 1,330 bikes. From the article it appears Blue Cross Blue Shield privately funded a large portion. Judging from the audacity of your post, how much do you suppose this Insurance company paid for adults on the "larger side" that haven't touched a bike since their teens? I think this is a step in the right direction. How about you stick with worrying about suburban issues!

Minn12, even a radio station doesn't make money without sponsors. Nor does a Nascar team. What's your point? It's mostly privately funded, unlike the MN Vikings.

I say "yippee" for a happy story! It's a good thing for everyone. The sponsors are happy, the riders are happy and everyone gets to have time in fresh air and get healthier too. If moving bikes uphill in St. Paul is the worst issue, this is a fantastic success.Have fun this summer Twin Cities!

I think this is a neat program, and I am happy to hear that the users have been so responsible. I never used it myself (I have my own bike), but it seems like to would be great for out-of-town visitors, students, or people without room for a bike in their apartments. Minneapolis/St. Paul has an amazing system of bike trails (really the best in the nation, in my experience) and we should give people access to them.

@bignellyxx:"Really minn12 you are worried about the cost of 1,330 bikes. From the article it appears Blue Cross Blue Shield privately funded a large portion. Judging from the audacity of your post, how much do you suppose this Insurance company paid for adults on the "larger side" that haven't touched a bike since their teens? I think this is a step in the right direction. How about you stick with worrying about suburban issues!"....Heck yeah I'm worried about the cost of this silly program. It's just another example of a government spending money it doesn't have on programs that DON'T pay for themselves. All you defenders obviously don't live in Mpls. Well I do, and along with everyone else who does, I have seen my property taxes SKYROCKET in the last decade or more due to reckless spending such as this, along with 'green roofs', fountains, bike paths and bike lanes and other stupid wasteful programs that never pay for themselves. Got it now?

@teddyg:"Minn12, even a radio station doesn't make money without sponsors. Nor does a Nascar team. What's your point? It's mostly privately funded, unlike the MN Vikings"...Seriously?? A radio station and NASCAR are PRIVATE companies that DON'T TAX ME. If I don't like a radio station, I change the channel. If I don't like NASCAR, I don't watch it. If I don't like the city paying for a silly bike rack program that can't pay for itself, I still get taxed for it. See the difference? And until someone posts the REAL COSTS of this program, there is no proof whatsoever that this pays for itself without taxpayer funding, even with some sponsorship. No wonder the city is broke.

Nice Ride is operated as a non-profit organization, and as such is hugely successful. There have been several articles written on the economics and financial models of bike-share programs, including ones in Forbes and USNews, which a simple google search will help you find. Hooray for NiceRide! It is one organization I can whole-heartedly support and am happy to have any measly amount of tax dollars that they might get go to them.