In what can only be described as a ridiculous (or just naive?) move to give those pesky would-be protesters some easy transportation, a Fortune 500 health insurer called Humanw will provide 1,000 bikes to the Twin Cities to be used during the Republican National Convention, and then leaving 75 behind for a "permanent bike-sharing initiative."

Apparently this program, Freewheelin, was in place in St. Paul in the 90's but went bust when the honor system failed and bikes disappeared.

To use a Freewheelin cycle, participants would register with credit cards to ensure that they don't make off with the bikes, which otherwise are expected to be free to use. They then can go online, too, to track how many miles they've logged and calories they've burned.

Humana also is making 1,000 bicycles available to Denver during the Democratic National Convention, in turn giving Denver and the Twin Cities the opportunity to join Washington at the forefront of communal two-wheel initiatives.

I highy doubt delegates, members of the media, lobbyists and donors or going to be trucking around the Cities pedaling two wheelers. The Host Committee has prepared bus transportation for delegates and their guests. So really, it's a great opportuntiy for onlookers and protesters to take advantage of.