On Wednesday, New York City announced a partnership with , unveiling what will become the nation’s largest bike-sharing program when it goes live next summer. Alta will place and plans to charge an annual membership fee of about $100, less than a monthly unlimited-ride MetroCard but more than the free or heavily subsidized bike-share programs offered in parts of Europe. In preparation for the launch, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration has created more than 250 miles of bike lanes since 2007, in the process more than doubling the city’s ridership. Some details, including the cost of single rides, the location of docking stations, and corporate sponsorships that will help cover costs, are still in flux. The New York Department of Transportation has to collect residents’ feedback on locations. Alta launched similar programs two months ago in Boston and last year Washington D.C., where daily ridership has topped .
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