Commuters offered option of bicycle rental

BERLIN -- Helping commuters shave time off their daily train commutes, Germany's rail system has extended a rental bike program to the nation's capital.

Deutsche Bahn, Germany's railway operator, deployed more than 1,200 bicycles around Berlin last week, and plans to distribute 800 more by the end of the month.

The program began two years ago in Munich, where 1,100 bicycles are currently on the streets.

Customers can pick up the bikes at stations, at random street corners, or wherever previous riders may have left them.

The only catch: riders must have a credit card or bank account.