In this file photo from Jan. 13, 2015, a Citibike cyclist rides by other docked bicycles, near Grand Central Terminal, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Metros around the country — including in Kansas — have implemented bike-share programs in recent years, and now consultants are working to determine whether one would be appropriate in Lawrence.

To study Lawrence as a possible site for a public network of short-term rental bicycles, the city hired consulting firm Toole Design Group in March with a $40,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation and $10,000 in city funding. To gain a better idea of whether Lawrence residents would use a bike-share system, a survey was posted on the city’s website Wednesday. Information booths will be set up at a few Lawrence events next week.

“Bike-shares across the country are becoming more popular,” said Jessica Mortinger, senior transportation planner for the city. “We would encourage anyone who has any input to weigh in about how you think it would operate or work in our community.”

In part, Toole Design Group will study: how cities similar to Lawrence use bike-share; where bike-share stations would be located; what type of technology, security and amenities should be at stations; the condition of bike lanes in Lawrence; and, if there’s a demand for one, how a bike-share could be paid for.

Consultants will complete the feasibility study by the end of the year, Mortinger said. When finished, it will be presented to the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The online survey will be available until Sept. 10. It asks how often people ride bicycles and to where they ride, as well as why they would or wouldn’t use a bike-share. It also asks participants to select some of the biggest challenges a bike-share system in Lawrence would face.

Mortinger said the city is trying to cast a wide net with the survey, attempting to hear from more than regular bicyclists.

“It really impacts everybody,” Mortinger said. “Someone who is traditionally commuting by bike to and from work probably wouldn’t use a bike-share in the same way somebody visiting the community would, or a KU student who wants to make a quick ride across campus, or someone downtown who wants to go somewhere else on a ride.”

In addition to the survey, the city has a map on its website on which people are asked to pinpoint where bike-share stations should be located. As of Thursday, those participating had placed dozens of possible locations on the map. Once a location has been identified, others can comment on the suggestion and choose whether to agree or disagree with the location.

The suggestions spanned as far west as Clinton Lake and as far east as the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The southern-most suggestion was Lawrence Southwind Theaters, with access to the South Lawrence Trafficway trail. Someone had the idea of a station near the on-ramp to Interstate 70 in North Lawrence, where the person suggested commuters could meet on bike before carpooling to Topeka or Kansas City.

Many of the suggestions were clumped around downtown Lawrence, the Kansas River trail and Kansas University campus.

The city will hold three information booths next week to answer questions about bike-share networks. One will be held June 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. in front of Lawrence Public Library. There will be one June 22 on the Sixth Street Hy-Vee from 6 to 8 p.m., and the last will be on June 25 during the Free State Family Fun Fest outside of the Lawrence Arts Center from noon to 3 p.m.

Lawrence is borrowing a bike from the Topeka Metro Bikes program to show off at the booths.

In April of last year, Topeka debuted Kansas’ first-ever bike-share network. Annual memberships for the Topeka program costs $25, allowing for two hours of use each day. Those without memberships can pay $2.50 per hour to use the bikes.

Topeka’s network started with 100 bikes and added 100 more this spring. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that in the first four months the system was available, 1,600 people signed up and users had made more than 7,000 trips.