Nike has signed on to "sponsor Portland's forthcoming bike-rental program, which it's calling Biketown," according to Elliot Njus of the Portland OREGONIAN. The company will pay $10M over five years "in exchange for the right to put its Swoosh logo and signature orange color on the bicycles that will crisscross the central city when bike-share launches in July, as well as kiosks, racks and promotional materials." Nike will also periodically "create limited-edition wraps, changing up the look of the bikes." It is an "unusual move" for Nike, which is "more inclined to sponsor professional athletes and teams that will wear its products than to seek naming rights for municipal facilities or programs, even in its hometown." This sponsorship "goes a long way toward ensuring the program's viability" (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/7). New Balance is the sponsor of the bike-share program in Boston, while the program in Indianapolis is dubbed the Indiana Pacers Bikeshare as part of a deal with the team. Citi sponsors programs in N.Y., Honolulu and Miami. TD sponsors bike sharing in Toronto, Alaska Airlines is in Seattle and BlueCross BlueShield sponsors programs in Houston, K.C., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Charlotte and Chicago (THE DAILY).
