I previously wrote at length about the ultra-cool bike sharing program I saw in action in Paris this past May, and I fretted why a similar program hadn’t been considered for New York City.

Well as usual I spoke too soon. The NYC DOT today put out a “Request for Expressions of Interest” (linked above) for just such a program. Here’s hoping the idea survives the bureaucratic crapfest it’s sure to endure and actually comes to fruition.

And just as exciting and worthwhile, The Forum for Urban Design is holding the New York Bike Share Program 2008, an experiment to test the viability of just such a program. It runs from July 10 through the 14th.