At offices, parks, intersections and a pedestrian bridge across the Tennessee River, people here can rent bicycles from solar-powered stations to zip around, using extra-low gears on steep streets.
But it has been a tough road since the Bike Chattanooga program began two summers ago. The initial funding of $2.1 million has been spent, revenue has fallen short, and the number of yearly memberships sold to frequent riders is about 90% smaller than projected.
Bike-sharing programs are spreading across the U.S., with more than 21,000 shared bikes in at least 36 urban areas from Boston to Fort Worth, Texas, to Denver, up from just six programs in 2010, according to researchers.