ATLANTA - The City of Atlanta is moving forward with a plan to launch its first citywide bike-sharing program.

Mayor Kasim Reed announced Wednesday that the city is beginning contract negotiations with its preferred bike-share vendor, CycleHop. The company is expected to partner with two local firms to garner sponsors and discuss potential rental locations.

The bike-sharing program calls for residents and visitors to have 24-hour access to GPS-enabled bicycles 365 days a year. The program is expected to launch in spring of 2015.

Interim Chief Operating Officer Mike Geisler says the city is hoping for the program to include 500 bicycles at 50 stations throughout Atlanta.

Among other cycling-related goals, city officials are hoping to double the percentage of people who bike to work from 1.1 to 2.2 percent by 2016.