Birmingham, Alabama: Sweating the details
Now in its third year, Birmingham’s Zyp bikeshare program has 400 bikes and 40 bike stations. “Being in the southeast, the stigma of using a bus, let alone a bike, is still palpable,” notes Zyp’s executive director, Keith Rawls, referring to a common perception in communities of color that taking the bus or riding a bike is for people who can’t afford to buy a car. “We’re coming out of that here, more so than any place I’ve seen.”
One thing that helps is Zyp’s fleet of more than 100 e-bikes, or pedal-assist electric bikes, which cruise along at about the same speed as an automobile in city traffic. That also means you can ride in the summer and show up at work relatively unscathed by Birmingham’s sweltering humidity. And though it’s electric, there’s still a cardio bonus. “You engage the motor by pedaling,” explains Rawls. “And people tend to ride longer, which keeps their heart rate up longer. But you don’t feel as taxed.”