Municipal bike-sharing programs have expanded rapidly. In the city of Westford, the "MetroBikes" scheme is funded through local municipal taxes and a small user registration fee. This allows residents to borrow bikes for up to 45 minutes for free.
Without municipal subsidy, private firms would underprovide these services because they are unable to exclude non-paying users from experiencing the benefits of cleaner air and clearer roads, leading to market failure.
The scheme's charter sets out its main operational objectives:
With reference to Extract B, explain two external benefits associated with the consumption of municipal cycle-sharing.