Washington, DC, has become the first major U.S. city to launch a bike-sharing program. Residents who sign up for a SmartBike DC membership -- and pay a $40 annual fee -- can rent a bike for a few hours from stations all over the city.
It's a great idea, one that has had success in several cities in Europe.
But there's one aspect of the program that just might doom it altogether. From DCist:
It takes at least a couple of weeks to process memberships, so if you sign up today, you can be one of the first people to try out the new program.
"At least a couple of weeks"?? I'm sure people are excited about the notion of being about to grab a bike and go, but won't a two- or three-week wait be a huge discouraging factor?
Or am I wrong? Do you think people will sign up even though they can't use the bikes for a while?
Previously: NYC Explores Bike-Sharing
Image from Flickr user erin*carly (via DCist)
Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
E-mail: zpatton@governing.com 
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
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