Spokefly, Austin

Spokefly strives to make biking the most efficient way to get around town. Created and maintained by community members, the self-sustaining bike-sharing program harnesses the power of smartphone technology to put idle bikes to work in cities across the U.S. Through the Spokefly app, bike owners can list their unused bikes and earn money based on how often their bike is ridden. Riders, meanwhile, can rent bikes on demand.

After choosing their two-wheeled steed—which will be locked up at a nearby rack—riders simply unlock it, pedal it wherever they'd like, and then re-lock it on another rack. To ensure the process goes smoothly, Spokefly's app also has check-in and check-out features, enabling owners and riders to keep track of which bikes are available and which decided to go AWOL and get a job with the postal service.