Forget impending Armageddon, rising rent prices, and the latest batch of shitty noise regulation laws. Sometimes it’s more fun to talk about positive things happening in the Big Apple.

Enter the New York Bike-Share Program. In an act that’s both socially and environmentally conscious, the program is conducting a test run of its bike rental program from July 7 – 11, at the Storefront For Art and Architecture in Manhattan.

The aim of the program is to arm commuters with the ability to grab a bike from any station in the city and return it to any station later on for a mere 50 cents. It’s a similar concept to ones already practiced in Europe (Paris keeps 10,000 bikes at 750 rent stations across the city, for instance). Reviews of some of these other successful bike-share programs will be on display at the Storefront, which will also host a series of lectures from transportation experts. If all goes well, the hipsters will have to find a new, cooler way to get around. Unicycle, perhaps?

Free Bike Rental
July 7-11, 2007, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Storefront for Art and Architecture
97 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012