Some days, bike sharing in Fort Worth would be great

The question is obvious.

Let's say it's a beautiful spring day in Fort Worth, lots of sunshine, no storms in the forecast, the temperature a perfect 70 degrees. You and your spouse or friend want to see the exhibit of impressionist paintings at the Kimbell Art Museum. (Yes! Go see it! The paintings will be there until June 17.)

But you also want to enjoy the great day outside. If the planners at the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the T, had their way -- and if the future were here today -- you could combine both pleasures.

You head downtown, swipe a debit card at one of the bike-share stations, grab a couple of bikes, put on your helmets and pedal down Seventh Street to the Cultural District. Return the bikes to a bike-share station there and head on into the Kimbell.

Maybe you also spend some time at one of the other museums or at an event at the Will Rogers Memorial Center before you pick up a couple of different bikes at a sharing station and go back downtown. There's a bit of an uphill climb in that direction, but you're in shape for it, right? (Remember, this is an illustration, so you can be whatever you want to be.)

You get some good food at a downtown restaurant, maybe even enjoy some local nightlife before you go home. (Don't worry about the kids. They're safe at grandma and grandpa's house.)

Nice, huh? (Actually, rather dreamlike.)

OK, here's the spoiler, that aforementioned obvious question. Say it's late July or early August and the temperature is a couple of dozen degrees higher (it's still morning, the cool part of the day). Do you make that same trip?

You might, but unless you're a very determined bicyclist you'd probably go in your car or take an air-conditioned T bus.

Do climate conditions mean bike-sharing is not viable in Fort Worth?

Those planners at the T believe it is viable. The T is expected to apply soon for a $1 million federal grant to buy about 200 bicycles and set up 20 to 22 bike-sharing stations downtown and in the Near Southside, the medical district and the Cultural District. Similar operations have blossomed and thrived in other cities during the past two years, from San Francisco to New York to Miami and, most recently, Chicago.

Riders pay a daily, monthly or annual fee to be in the rental network, plus additional fees if they keep the same bikes for more than 30 minutes. The system is geared toward short trips and quick turnover.

It doesn't have to be just for pleasure outings. If you work downtown or in one of the other areas that has a rental station and you need to make a trip to the Tarrant County Courthouse, you could get a bike rather than take your car out of its parking space.

But at least in some cities, daily renters are by far the majority. That means taking advantage of the bike-share stations is not a long-term plan for most people. It also means the weather that day could make a big difference.

It would be nice to see the T get that grant and set up bike sharing in Fort Worth. The idea for the initial plan starts small with just 200 bikes (Washington, D.C., has 1,200).

Fort Worth is becoming a more bike-friendly city. It would be great to see sharing work. Realistically, it's going to be an uphill climb.

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