Central District Health has submitted a grant application that could help pay for a program that would put 140 bikes at 14 stations throughout Downtown Boise.

The bikes would be available as short-term rentals from automated stations.

Idaho's growing obesity rates and air quality challenges in Ada County are inspirations for the project, said Dave Fotsch, health department spokesman. In the past 20 years, Idaho's obesity rates have increased from as much as 14 percent to as much 29 percent of the population, according to a national study. A county report found that Ada County ranks last out of 42 Idaho counties surveyed for air quality.

The time frame for the grant, which would provide $650,000 from the Federal Highway Administration, is two to six years. So starting a bike program isn't immediate. But health department officials will meet to set a budget and maintenance plan for a program. They'll meet with stakeholders — such as City of Boise, CCDC, Boise State and ACHD — in January to work out more details and build support, Fotsch said.

Boise State and CCDC have each pledged $10,000 to a future bike share program.

Eventually, said Fotsch, Central District Health will also look for private funding to help support the project. Hospitals, insurance companies and others with a stake in public health might be possible funding sources, he said.

Public bike-share programs are now in place in Washington D.C., Denver, Colo. and Madison, Wis., among other cities.