Houston City Council approves new BCycle lifeline

Driving the news: The City of Houston is giving BCycle one more lifeline before the service ends and is replaced with a new bike share network from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.

• City Council voted Wednesday to give Houston Bike Share upward of $540,000 to keep BCycle afloat until Metro's network comes online within the next six months.
• Mayor Sylvester Turner said during Wednesday's City Council meeting that the funds will keep BCycle going for a year and will help provide a smooth transition for users from BCycle to Metro's system.

Yes, but: District A Councilwoman Amy Peck, District G Councilwoman Mary Nan Huffman, and at-large Councilmen Mike Knox and Michael Kubosh voted no.

• "In my view, we're investing in a failing corporation," Knox said during the meeting.

Details: BCycle operates 150 stations across Houston, mostly in the Inner Loop, but many have closed due to the nonprofit's financial woes.

• The funding will help BCycle keep about 60 stations open with hopes of reopening some that have already shuttered.

Meanwhile, the Metro board will vote Thursday on a contract with PBSC Urban Solutions, an international bike-sharing company, to build and operate its 20 initial transit-adjacent bike share stations.

• The new program is expected to expand in the coming years.