Waterloo, Wisconsin – Nov. 8, 2018 – Building on a 10-year tradition of experience and innovation, BCycle proudly introduces the bike share industry’s newest and most innovative electric bike – the BCycle Electric.

Starting this week, BCycle will pilot the new electric bike in six locations this fall and winter to include programs in Austin, Texas, Broward County, Florida, Cincinnati, Ohio, Madison, Wisconsin, Los Angeles, California, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The new electric bike differentiates BCycle with the following best-in-class features:

• Bosch motor and display
• Shimano 3-speed internal hub
• Seamless integration into existing BCycle stations
  

 

BCycle was founded in 2008 and remains the only continuously operating U.S. bike share provider during the past decade. It has grown from launching the first system in Denver in 2010 with 300 first-generation bikes to now with more than 15,000 bikes across the United States – from first-generation bikes to smart bikes to the latest introduction of electric bikes.

“The first 10 years are just the beginning,” said Morgan Ramaker, BCycle’s new Executive Director. “BCycle continues to grow and lead – thanks to proven experience and success, innovative and best-in-class products, and superior customer service. We’ve always believed in the power of the bicycle to change the world – the BCycle Electric powers up those possibilities even more.”

The electric bike is the latest in a string of innovations from BCycle in the past decade, including:

• Partnering with community stakeholders in programs ranging from small to large, private to public
• Classic systems with smart stations
• Smart bike with turn-by-turn navigation
• Mobile app checkout
• Transit and student integration

 

BCycle riders have taken more than 17 million trips. All BCycle bikes are designed by Waterloo, Wisconsin-based Trek.

For more information on BCycle, visit www.bcycle.com and download the BCycle app in the App Store or Google Play Store.

ABOUT BCYCLE Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, BCycle develops and delivers best-in-class bike share systems and is committed to providing an environmentally sustainable transportation alternative for cities. It’s BCycle’s mission to partner with campuses, corporations and municipalities of all sizes to implement and maintain bike share systems that complement and improve existing transportation infrastructure. The company does so with a suite of products that make riding the easiest and most enjoyable part of people’s day, and an incredibly impactful part of any public transportation network. For more information, visit www.bcycle.com.

Feature available on all BCycle Dash advanced smart bikes

WATERLOO, WISCONSIN – Sept. 5, 2018 – BCycle Dash smart bikes just got even smarter. On the heels of a four-city launch of Dash, BCycle has introduced the advanced smart bike’s latest feature: turn-by-turn directions that guide riders to their destinations via city-designated bike routes.

 

BCycle’s turn-by-turn directions offer both clear, easy-to-read instructions on the heads-up display, and audible directions to the rider on a moving bicycle. Today, BCycle becomes the first bike share provider to offer this feature.

 

“Launching turn-by-turn directions is further evidence of BCycle’s commitment to developing and delivering best-in-class bike share systems,” said BCycle President Bob Burns. “We’re looking forward to having more cities add BCycle Dash to their systems to make the turn-by-turn directions available to even more people.”

 

Currently, riders in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Memphis, Tennessee; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Tulsa, Oklahoma, have access to the turn-by-turn directions with more cities being added.

 

Here’s how it works. Checkout any Dash bike using the BCycle app and tap the "Where to?" button. Follow the prompts to select your route. Store your phone and follow the heads up, on-screen directions on the smart bike.  

 

This new feature further differentiates BCycle Dash from other smart bikes. Among its many features, BCycle Dash has the ability to be docked at conventional bike racks, at its own Dash dock, or next to a station if there are no available docks. BCycle Dash incorporates elements that firmly establish bike share as a critical component of a community’s transit system offerings.

 

BCycle worked with Mapbox to create turn by turn directions for Dash. "Mapbox is helping BCycle to offer consumers the next generation of smart shared bicycles with connected turn-by-turn navigation for increased convenience and safety,” said Jay Cox-Chapman, Navigation Product Lead, Mapbox. “BCycle has also partnered with Mapbox to extend Mapbox’s Navigation SDK and plans to open-source these changes in the near future. We are excited to be part of BCycle's industry-leading navigation experience."

 

BCycle currently has more than 15,000 bikes on the ground and riders have taken over 16 million trips. All BCycle bikes are designed by Waterloo,Wisconsin-based Trek.

 

For more information on BCycle, visit www.bcycle.com and download the BCycle app in the App Store or Google Play Store.

Cutting-Edge Smart Bikes to Launch in Arts District



TULSA, OKLAHOMA - Tulsa will be one of the first communities in the U.S. to have a dockless smart bike system. Tulsa Bike Share will launch This Machine, bringing 75 bikes and 5 stations to the Arts District, with plans to expand to more neighborhoods soon. 

“With the launch of This Machine on July 27, Tulsa will take a significant step forward in becoming a more walkable, bike-friendly community that provides meaningful alternative transportation access to its citizens and visitors,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.  “Having a world-class bike sharing system will build upon the City’s recent investments in transit through Vision Tulsa, and ensure Tulsa has the transportation amenities that visitors expect – and our citizens deserve.”

This Machine will be one of only four systems in the U.S. to launch with BCycle Dash, a new smart bike technology with an integrated touch screen display developed by Trek Bicycles. While requiring higher capital investments, smart bikes forgo a traditional, dock-based system that allows for more flexible travel.

The launch, which represents more than two years of planning by the City of Tulsa and INCOG, will be announced at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, in partnership with Tulsa Bike Share’s primary sponsor, the William K. Warren Foundation and Saint Francis Health System.

“The William K. Warren Foundation and Saint Francis Health System view bicycle access as a tool in meeting Tulsa’s transportation and recreation needs, and as a way to better promote physical activity and wellness,” said Tom Cooper, William K. Warren Foundation President.  “We helped introduce the region’s first bike sharing system, the Tulsa Townies, along River Parks in August 2007.  We are proud to support This Machine in 2018, and play a part in expanding this access to a greater number of Tulsans and visitors to our community.”

This Machine’s system will expand to Blue Dome, East Village, Greenwood, OSU-Tulsa, Deco District, Cathedral District, and Route 66/University of Tulsa, with 160 bikes and 25 stations in the following weeks. Additional expansions are anticipated in 2019 and 2020.

Users can access the bikes from the BCycle mobile application on any smartphone. Rides will be free for the first week; after that, 30-minute single ride passes will cost $2 per trip. A three-day pass will also be available, along with monthly, annual, and founding memberships. Membership includes access to other B-Cycle systems across the country.

Bike share systems are a key indicator of a city’s connectivity and accessibility, and a component that young professionals and corporations look to in evaluating a community.  Bike sharing is an increasingly popular way for residents and visitors to experience a city; more than 35 million bike share trips were taken in 2017, up more than 25 percent from the previous year. 

This Machine will play an important role in the City’s transportation network, which in recent years has been at the forefront of development and planning by INCOG. “INCOG understands the importance of creating a transportation network that includes all forms of mode share -- bicycle, pedestrian, bus and automobile,” said Jane Ziegler, Transportation Planner for INCOG. “INCOG, with the input of 11 regional cities, including Tulsa, have created a regional bicycle/pedestrian master plan that will safely connect Tulsa’s surrounding suburbs to its business and entertainment districts.”

With its smart bike system, Tulsa joins Memphis, Colorado Springs, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in offering this new cutting-edge technology.

We are thrilled to finally be launching This Machine’s first 75 bikes,” said Daniel Sperle, Executive Director of Tulsa Bike Share.  “Volunteers have spent countless hours building bikes, placing decals, and serving as ambassadors for the program. We are proud to launch a bike share program that is on the cutting edge of bike share technology that will transform how visitors and residents experience Tulsa.”

More information on This Machine can be found online at: thismachine.bcycle.com

About Tulsa Bike Share:

Tulsa Bike Share is a nonprofit organization created as a public-private partnership between the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), the City of Tulsa, and private sponsors, with a mission  to provide a safe, equitable, alternative transportation option to Tulsa residents and visitors. The name “This Machine” is a nod to Tulsa’s rich pop culture history.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - Colorado Springs is the latest city to bring bike share to its community, further enhancing transportation options for residents and the world-class experience for visitors. Downtown Ventures, the charitable nonprofit arm of Downtown Partnership launched PikeRide, the first public large-scale bike share system in Colorado Springs.

PikeRide launched on June 26^th with 208 bikes and 28 stations and serves residents and visitors alike with a coverage area of 12 square miles.   

"With the support of Kaiser Permanente and many other community-based sponsors, we are excited to bring this amazing opportunity to Colorado Springs and look forward to seeing it flourish in the years to come by providing a healthy, fun, cost-effective alternative option of mobility for getting around our great town," says Jolie Nesmith, PikeRide Executive Director. 

The PikeRide system brings the total number of communities with a BCycle system in the United States to 51. BCycle currently has more than 15,000 bikes on the ground and riders have taken over 16 million trips. PikeRide launched with BCycle Dash making it the third Dash program to launch this year and the first in Colorado. PikeRide is powered by title sponsor Kaiser Permanente.

For additional information, visit pikeride.org. 

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE—Explore Bike Share, a nonprofit which launched a 60-station, 600-bike bike share system in Memphis this spring, is celebrating its first month of serving the Memphis community through engagement with a new, affordable form of public transportation.

The system launched on May 23 with The Big Roll-Out, a public celebratory event which engaged hundreds of volunteers to distribute the bike share bikes by riding in teams to stations within the service area.

“We launched Explore Bike Share after years of research and preparation including being on the ground talking to Memphians about their hopes, their needs, and how civic programs can serve them best,” said Trey Moore, Executive Director of Explore Bike Share. “Our 501(c)3’s mission to improve the health, culture, transportation and tourism of our community relies on the quantitative and the qualitative. It’s about feeding over 80 residents in South City with bike knowledge and barbecue plates, it’s employees whose personal economies are impacted by a new ride to work, and it’s about the new public art programs that Explore Bike Share will both fund and help foster.”

Explore Bike Share has formed strong partnerships with community organizations such as JUICE Orange Mound, Revolutions Bicycle CoOp, Knowledge Quest, The CLTV, and The Carpenter Art Garden by funding their community engagement programming in the service area as a pathway to ensuring bike share meets the needs and wants of each neighborhood, is accessible and affordable and authentic to the communities’ culture and Memphis as a whole.

"We’re establishing relationships and financially investing in them because they’re the fabric of Explore Bike Share’s model,” said Sara Studdard, Community Engagement and Marketing Director of Explore Bike Share. “Through these partnerships, Memphians all over have helped us create something our communities can rally around, because it offers people new, accessible options that were previously unavailable. These partnerships are our keystones, as Explore Bike Share’s success depends upon the greater community’s success.”

Britney Thornton, founder of JUICE Orange Mound, the homegrown funding source of the Orange Mound community, has organized two Explore Bike Share weekend events in Orange Mound with more planned this summer and fall.

“Explore Bike Share’s commitment to my community shows that they value providing not only resources but also equity and access,” said Thornton. “Many Orange Mound residents had never before considered bicycles beyond being a means of transportation. Now, together, with this new tool and infrastructure, we are able to strengthen our community by leveraging bikes to engage and mobilize current residents. We are eager to build a solid bike culture that transforms our previously disengaged community to a high-functioning, knowledgeable, and connected neighborhood in the city.”

Kevin Woods, Memphis Market President of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, believes this community engagement focus, coupled with the health benefits of biking, will ultimately uplift Memphis in ways beyond transportation.

“Explore Bike Share is a tremendous opportunity for the mobility and wellness of Memphians because it offers a fun, practical, and affordable way to get around,” said Kevin Woods, Memphis Market President for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “We hope our neighbors will use this exciting resource to get active and engaged with one another in not only physical fitness, but also exploration of our great city.”

As of the morning of June 20, 2018 approximately 2,950 Memphis residents and visitors have collectively burned over 1,095,967 calories, taking 6,423 rides covering 26,078 miles’ distance between Explore Bike Share’s 60 stations spanning from Downtown, West Memphis, South Memphis, and Cooper Young to Orange Mound, Overton Square, and Crosstown.

“Adoption has happened much faster than expected, and we believe it’s a byproduct of over two years of research and community groundwork,” Moore added.

Increased bike traffic in city commercial centers has translated into increased traffic into local businesses.

Memphis Made Brewing, for example, has a long history of supporting bicycle culture in the city, leading to its earning a silver bike friendly business designation from The League of American Cyclists. When Explore Bike Share approached co-owners Andy Ashby and Drew Barton about installing a docking station near the brewery's tap room entrance, they jumped at the chance.

“We’ve been early adopters in the biking community and are excited to see so many people riding down Cooper Street," Ashby said. "People use the bikes at our station all the time to ride around our neighborhood or to get to Overton Square. We're happy to see people taking advantage of this amenity."

“We have a docking station right in front of our entrance, and people are always coming and going,” said Andy Ashby, co-founder and Vice President of Memphis Made Brewing Co. “We’ve been early adopters in the biking community and are excited to see so many riding down Cooper to take in surroundings, see inside our taproom when rolling by, and dock bikes to come in and have a beer on a whim. Many places in Cooper-Young, and Overton Square too, now have that opportunity.”

Explore Bike Share has already reached over 50% of its annualized membership projection in month one of operation with 544 number of monthly and annual members.

“Of course we feel the numbers are important, but as a 501(c)3 with a mission of encouraging Memphians to engage with their communities and communities outside of their own, it’s about the people first and foremost,” Trey Moore said. “Our community partnerships, a dedicated staff, and the amazingly patient and supportive bike share users from Memphis and beyond have exceeded our expectations. I feel a great optimism for Explore Bike Share’s future.”

STATS AT A GLANCE:
As of June 20, 2018

Total number of monthly and annual members: 544
Total number of users: 2,950
Total number of bike trips: 6,423
Total distance: 27,503 miles
Estimated total carbon offset: 26,078
Estimated total calories burned: 1,095,967
Top ridership by station:

·       Overton Park
·       Big River Crossing (East)
·       Beale Street Landing
·       Court Square
·       Crosstown Concourse
·       Memphis Park
·       Loflin Yard
·       Front & Beale
·       Hudson Transit Center
·       South Main & Talbot



ABOUT EXPLORE BIKE SHARE. Explore Bike Share is a Memphis 501(c)3 that has implemented a robust bike share system and transportation tool to advance the city on multiple fronts—including but not limited to transportation, tourism, health, environment, and culture—with access to as many Memphians as possible. Initially launched with a 600-bike system in May 2018, the system will expand to 900 bikes by 2019. For more information, visit explorebikeshare.com.

Tulsa, Oklahoma – Tulsa Bike Share announced the debut of their smart bike-sharing service, This Machine.  This Machine will bring a state-of-the-art system to the community, while celebrating Tulsa’s rich cultural history.  The system will be formally launched and be available for Tulsans on July 27.

 

The announcement was made at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough in partnership with their primary sponsor, The William K. Warren Foundation and Saint Francis Health System.

 

“The William K. Warren Foundation and Saint Francis Health System view bicycle access as a tool in meeting Tulsa’s transportation and recreation needs, and as a way to better promote physical activity and wellness,” said Tom Cooper, President of The William K. Warren Foundation.  “We helped introduce the region’s first bike sharing system, the Tulsa Townies, along River Parks in August 2007.  We are proud to support This Machine in 2018, and play a part in expanding this access to a greater number of Tulsans and visitors to our community.”

 

Bike share systems continue to be a key indicator of a city’s connectivity and accessibility, and a component that young professionals and corporations look to in evaluating a community.  Bike sharing is an increasingly popular way for residents and visitors to experience a city: more than 35 million bike-share trips were taken in 2017, up more than 25 percent from the previous year. 

 

The announcement of This Machine represents more than two years of planning by the City of Tulsa and INCOG. 

 

“With the launch of This Machine on July 27, Tulsa will take a significant step forward in becoming a more walkable, bike-friendly community that provides meaningful alternative transportation access to its citizens and visitors,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.  “Having a world-class bike sharing system will build upon the City’s recent investments in transit through Vision Tulsa, and ensure Tulsa has the transportation amenities that visitors expect – and our citizens deserve.”

 

The state-of-the-art system will initially consist of 25 stations and 160 bikes, providing coverage to downtown Tulsa, River Parks, the Gathering Place, and Route 66 to the University of Tulsa.  This Machine will be one of four systems to launch with BCycle’s – a subsidiary of Trek Bicycles – new smart-bike technology with an integrated touch screen display.  Tulsa joins the ranks of Memphis, Tennessee; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming in having this best-in-class technology.

 

"We are thrilled to unveil our new system name and bikes to the public for the first time,” said Daniel Sperle, Executive Director of Tulsa Bike Share.  “We have been working hard to develop a locally-oriented brand and an innovative system that will help transform the way Tulsans and visitors experience and move about our city.  And we are proud to be able to share the culmination of that work today, during such an iconic home-grown bicycling event as the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough.”

 

This Machine will offer a variety of pricing options that meet the needs of everyone from commuters to fitness enthusiasts, or urban dwellers to tourists. Users will be able to choose to pay per ride, purchase a pass for the weekend, or become a monthly or annual member.

 

More information on This Machine can be found online at: www.thismachinetulsa.com.

 

About Tulsa Bike Share:

Tulsa Bike Share is a nonprofit organization created as a public-private partnership between the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), the City of Tulsa, and private sponsors. 

 

In 2016, Tulsa Bike Share hired Daniel Sperle to serve as Executive Director.  Daniel worked with bike share consultant Atla Planning & Consulting to evaluate the current market and select an equipment vendor for their initial purchase of capital equipment.

 

Upon evaluating the burgeoning bike-share industry, Tulsa Bike Share chose to forgo a more traditional, dock-based system that required significantly higher capital investments, and instead pursue a system that integrated emerging smart-bike technology – allowing bicycles to operate both in conjunction with, and independent from, physical stations.  This system allows for more flexible travel, enabling the system to better meet the needs of Tulsans and visitors to our community.

 

In selecting this route, Tulsa Bike Share joins the ranks of Memphis, Tennessee; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in launching systems with this cutting-edge technology.

Memphis becomes newest BCycle program with 600-bike system featuring BCycle Dash bikes

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – With an exclusive fleet of BCycle Dash advanced smart bikes, Memphis, Tennessee, becomes BCycle’s 50^th bike share program—and its largest smart bike system to date—with 600 bikes and 60 stations.

 

“Launching our 50th program is an important milestone, and we couldn’t be prouder to be doing so with our Dash bikes and ecosystem, which puts the rider at the center of the bike share experience and further integrates bike share with public transit,” said BCycle President Bob Burns. “There’s no better time than now to launch this program, during National Bike Month, and in a great city such as Memphis. We’re thrilled to welcome Memphis to the growing BCycle family and to be able to offer the people who live, work and play here a chance to experience BCycle Dash.”

 

Explore Bike Share launched this morning, May 23, through a community celebration in partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission. More than 250 volunteers crowdsource docked the bike fleet into their 60 stations for the first time.

 

Unlike other smart bikes, BCycle Dash incorporates elements that firmly establish bike share as a critical component of a community’s transit system offerings. Among its many features, BCycle Dash has the ability to be docked on conventional bike racks, at its own Dash dock and next to a station if there are no available docks.

 

The bike incorporates front and rear integrated lighting, a heads-up display with trip info and 8-speed shifting. Riders can purchase a membership online, at a payment kiosk or through the BCycle app, where they will also be able to access trip history, routes and ride data. Riders can check out bikes directly from the BCycle mobile app, using an Explore Bike Share RFID card or a user ID and PIN directly on the bike’s forward-facing touchscreen.

 

“Explore Bike Share’s mission is to provide an affordable, accessible and approachable transportation option for all Memphians and visitors,” said Trey Moore, executive director of Explore Bike Share. “BCycle’s equipment and technology have allowed us to fulfill that mission equitably and intentionally with flexible station sites and easy-to-use bikes. Our team is excited to offer this state-of-the-art system to residents and tourists.”

 

Explore Bike Share in Memphis is BCycle’s 50^th program in the United States. Memphis is the second community to launch a BCycle Dash ecosystem. Jackson, Wyoming, launched its Dash system in April 2018; Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, launch with Dash later this year.

 

Globally, BCycle currently has more than 15,000 bikes on the ground and riders have taken nearly 15 million trips. All BCycle bikes are designed by Waterloo, Wisconsin-based Trek.

 

For more information on BCycle, visit www.bcycle.com and download the BCycle app in the App Store or Google Play Store.

 

For more information on Explore Bike Share, visit www.explorebikeshare.com.

BCYCLE MEDIA CONTACT
Laura Andrews
(706) 296-7135
landrews@bcycle.com

ABOUT BCYCLE. Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, BCycle develops and delivers best-in-class bike share systems worldwide, and is committed to providing an environmentally sustainable transportation alternative for cities. It’s BCycle’s mission to partner with campuses, corporations and municipalities of all sizes to implement and maintain bike share systems that complement and improve existing transportation infrastructure. They do so with a suite of products that make riding the easiest and most enjoyable part of people’s day, and an incredibly impactful part of your public transportation network. For more information, visit www.bcycle.com.

 

 

ABOUT EXPLORE BIKE SHARE. Explore Bike Share is a Memphis 501(c)3 with a mission to create and implement a transportation tool to advance the city on multiple fronts—including but not limited to transportation, tourism, health, environment, and culture—through the development and operation of a bike sharing program with access to as many Memphians as possible. Initially launching with a 600-bike system on May 23, 2018, the system will expand to 900 bikes by 2019. For more information, visit www.explorebikeshare.com.

Pictured: Doug Carpenter, DCA, Kevin Woods, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Trey Moore, Explore Bike Share, Doug McGowen, City of Memphis, Jaske Goff, Downtown Memphis Commission, Casey Shannon, Lewis Thomason, John Paul Shaffer, BLDG Memphis & Bike Walk TN, Kevin Kane, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, Porshe Stevens, Crosstown Arts, Bob Burns, BCycle, Jennifer Oswalt, Downtown Memphis Commission, Roshun Austin, The Works CDC, Suzanne Carlson, Innovate Memphis, Sara Studdard, Explore Bike Share, Mandi Schwarz, BCycle, Jon Pegg, Explore Bike Share

MEMPHIS—Today, in conjunction with the kickoff of National Bike Month, Explore Bike Share is proud to announce its official 60-station, 600-bike system launch date of Wednesday, May 23.

“Our full-staff team of nine and BCycle operations partners are working around the clock to operationally implement and communally introduce a top-tier bike share system for the city of Memphis,” said Trey Moore, Executive Director of Explore Bike Share. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring these bikes to the streets and infuse them into the daily routines of Memphians and visitors.”

Community volunteers will ride the system’s initial bike fleet from Explore Bike Share’s Uptown warehouse on the morning of May 23 and congregate at Court Square for a community-wide celebration at 9:30 a.m. in partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission. Coined “The Big Roll-Out,” Explore Bike Share’s launch day event will recognize partners, funders and sponsors, ambassadors and spokespeople across neighborhoods and sectors.

“The DMC is excited to partner with Explore Bike Share on such a momentous day for the Downtown and greater Memphis community,” said Jay Goff, Vice President of Operations for the Downtown Memphis Commission and Explore Bike Share board member.

At the conclusion of the DMC-hosted event at 10:30 a.m., a volunteer-led “station migration” will ride the 600-bike fleet to its 60 stations across the system’s service area. Interested volunteers can select their neighborhood destination of choice, whether Cooper Young and South Memphis or Crosstown and Orange Mound, to crowdsource the system’s first-time distribution of bikes into stations. EventBrite sign-ups are available through The Big Roll-Out's Facebook event.

“Our launch date marks a culmination of the Explore Bike Share’s deep relationships and research and core values,” said Porsche Stevens, Explore Bike Share board member and Crosstown Concourse community engagement coordinator. “We look forward to bringing every type of Memphian together.”

Visit “The Big Roll-Out” Facebook event for further event details and RSVP mechanisms for Explore Bike Share volunteers.

Additionally, all Explore Bike Share membership levels are transactional beginning today, allowing Memphians to purchase their annual, monthly, or weekly membership. Memphians are urged to make a transaction now, though their membership will not be activated until their first ride. 

The “Pay It Forward” option, which supplies an annual membership to the donor and to another Memphian, supports the nonprofit’s mission to provide an affordable, accessible and approachable transportation for all. 

To become a member, visit here.

Additionally, the next three weeks mark the perfect time to get involved from a sponsorship perspective—opportunities range from robust branding on the bikes themselves to very specific, targeted advertising on stations, in social media promotions, and through event marketing.

“The time is now for every individual and organization to take advantage of the benefits that come with this dynamic new asset for Memphis,” said Moore. “We’re ready for Explore Bike Share to officially roll in with a robust introduction and collective of partners and people.”

For more information, visit explorebikeshare.com.

ABOUT EXPLORE BIKE SHARE. Explore Bike Share is a Memphis 501(c)3 with a mission to create and implement a transportation tool to advance the city on multiple fronts—including but not limited to transportation, tourism, health, environment, and culture—through the development and operation of a bike sharing program with access to as many Memphians as possible. Initially launching with a 600-bike system on May 23, 2018, the system will expand to 900 bikes by 2019. For more information, visit explorebikeshare.com

New bike and app establish bike share as critical component of town’s transit system offerings


Pictured left to right: Lee Jones, BCycle, Director of Business Development, Jack Koehler, Friends of Pathways, Program Director, Pete Muldoon, Jackson Mayor, Darren Brugmann, START Director

Jackson, Wyoming – April 11, 2018 – Jackson, Wyoming, is the latest community to bring bike share to the public, further enhancing transportation options for residents and the world-class experience for visitors – and it’s doing so as the first to launch BCycle Dash, an advanced smart bike that puts the rider at the center of the bike share experience and integrates bike share with public transit.

START Bike, a program of START Bus, launched yesterday with 55 BCycle Dash bikes and 17 stations. Friends of Pathways, in partnership with START Bus and the Town of Jackson, will operate the program.

START Bike is the first bike share program of its kind to launch with BCycle Dash. Unlike other smart bikes, BCycle Dash incorporates elements that firmly establish bike share as a critical component of a community’s transit system offerings. Among its many features, BCycle Dash has the ability to be docked on conventional bike racks, at its own Dash dock, next to a station if there are no available docks or anywhere a bike can be parked.

The bike incorporates front and rear integrated lighting, a heads-up display with trip info, and 8-speed shifting. Riders can purchase a membership online or using the BCycle app, where they will also be able to access trip history and ride data. Riders can check out bikes directly from the BCycle mobile app, using a START Bike membership card or a user ID and PIN.

“It’s not just about the bike – it’s about the rider,” said Bob Burns, BCycle President. “At BCycle, we are always looking for ways to connect the ecosystem with the rider to boost the rider experience. We’re excited to welcome Jackson to the growing BCycle family, and even more excited for the people who live, work and play here to experience all that BCycle Dash has to offer.”

START Bike provides a convenient and easy-to-use transportation alternative to short trips in the downtown area and provide users a fun and simple way to experience the town.

“Jackson is well known as a leader in environmentally sensitive initiatives and is acknowledged as a bicycle friendly community. A Jackson bike share program makes great sense,” said Jackson Mayor Pete Muldoon in a recent press release. “This bike share program will provide an additional healthy and environmentally-sensitive way for residents, commuters and visitors to move in and around our town. These shared bicycles will improve connectivity while reducing traffic congestion.”

The START Bike system brings the total number of communities with a BCycle system in the United States to 49. BCycle currently has more than 14,000 bikes on the ground and riders have taken nearly 2 million trips.

Jackson is the first community to launch BCycle Dash and will be joined by Memphis, Tennessee, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Colorado Springs, Colorado later this year. All BCycle bikes are designed by Waterloo, Wisconsin-based Trek.

For more information on BCycle, visit www.bcycle.com and download the BCycle app in the App Store or Google Play Store.

For more information on START Bike, visit www.startbikejh.com.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF PATHWAYS Friends of Pathways is a non-profit organization in Jackson, Wyoming, that supports a vibrant community by promoting sustainable transportation and healthy recreation. Its work has led to more than 65 miles of pathways in Teton County, including 15 miles in Grand Teton National Park. For more information, visit www.friendsofpathways.org.

ABOUT BCYCLE Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, BCycle develops and delivers best-in-class bike share systems worldwide, and is committed to providing an environmentally sustainable transportation alternative for cities. It’s BCycle’s mission to partner with campuses, corporations, and municipalities of all sizes to implement and maintain bike share systems that complement and improve existing transportation infrastructure. They do so with a suite of products that make riding the easiest and most enjoyable part of people’s day, and an incredibly impactful part of your public transportation network. For more information, visit www.bcycle.com.

Community members invited to participate in the launch at noon on the Town Square

JACKSON, WYOMING - START Bus and Friends of Pathways invite all community members to help celebrate the launch of the START Bike Share program on Tuesday, April 10^th. A group will convene at noon at the Town Square for a brief set of remarks, a short ride on the new bikes, and light refreshments. All community members are invited to join.

START Bike, a program of START Bus, launches with 55 bikes and 12 stations and will provide a new alternative for residents, commuters and tourists to travel. The program will be operated by Friends of Pathways in partnership with START Bus and the Town of Jackson.

START Bike provides a convenient and easy-to-use transportation alternative to short trips in the downtown area where residents and visitors can check out a bike from one station and return it to another station near their final destination.

“Jackson is well known as a leader in environmentally sensitive initiatives and is acknowledged as a bicycle friendly community.  A Jackson bike share program makes great sense,” said Jackson Mayor Pete Muldoon.  “This bike share program will provide an additional healthy and environmentally-sensitive way for residents, commuters and visitors to move in and around our town.  These shared bicycles will improve connectivity while reducing traffic congestion.”

“START is proud of the partnership we have with Friends of Pathways in bringing this alternative form of transportation to our Jackson Hole community,” said Darren Brugmann, START Director.  “START Bike is a leading example of government working with other entities to enhance the quality of life in our community.  START Biking!”

“Bike Share is low cost way to provide more mobility while improving the quality of life in Jackson,” said Katherine Dowson, Executive Director of Friends of Pathways. “Our community is ideal for cycling and more people are choosing to bike to their destination. We’re excited to give more people access to bikes for errands, going out to dinner, and other short trips in town.”

START Bike is the first bike share program of its kind, launching with BCycle Dash, an advanced smart bike that puts the rider at the center of the bike share experience. The bike incorporates front and rear integrated lighting, a heads-up display with trip info, and 8-speed shifting. Riders can purchase a membership online or using the BCycle app, where they will also be able to access trip history and ride data. Riders can check out bikes directly from the BCycle mobile app, using a START Bike membership card, or a user ID and PIN.

An Annual Pass, available for $50, includes unlimited 30 minute rides with a fee of $1.50 for each additional 15 minutes. A Founder’s Pass, available for $90, included unlimited 60 minute rides and allows riders to leave their bikes outside of the hubs with no fee. There is a limited number of Founder’s Passes available.

For more information on START Bike, visit www.startbikejh.com and download the BCycle app in the App Store or Google Play Store.


TOWN OF JACKSON CONTACT
Carl Pelletier
(307) 699-2015
cpelletier@jacksonwy.gov                                                            

START BIKE CONTACT                                                                                     
Lauren Dickey
(317) 797-6022
 lauren@friendsofpathways.org

ABOUT THE TOWN OF JACKSON. The Town of Jackson is located in the northwest section of Wyoming.  It was named in 1894 and officially incorporated in 1914.  Jackson has a population of 9,577 and is the county seat of Teton County.   It sits at an elevation of 6,237 feet above sea level and serves as the gateway into Grand Teton National Park.    

ABOUT FRIENDS OF PATHWAYS. Friends of Pathways is the community advocate for access to sustainable transportation and healthy recreation in Jackson Hole.


ABOUT BCYCLE. Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, BCycle develops and delivers best-in-class bike share systems worldwide, and is committed to providing an environmentally sustainable transportation alternative for cities. BCycle has successfully launched more bike sharing systems in the United States than any other company, and has done so on time and under budget with bike share systems that are secure, reliable and scalable. For more information, visit www.bcycle.com.

MEMPHIS—Explore Bike Share, a nonprofit bringing a 60-station, 600-bike bike share system to Memphis this spring, has revealed its station location map and official system brand and website.

Explore Bike Share’s 60 stations span from Downtown, South Memphis, and Cooper Young to Orange Mound, Overton Square, and Crosstown. Locations have been determined based on multiple criteria, including solar power accessibility, density, proximity to other transit options, neighborhood usage, and ongoing community engagement efforts. Ongoing neighborhood conversations, as well as a digital effort in late 2017 to capture pins on an interactive map of Memphis, resulted in over 3,500 “pins” submitted by citizens for potential station locations.

“We’ve made an organizational commitment to create an equitable system that is affordable, available and sustainable,” said Trey Moore, Executive Director of Explore Bike Share. “While we believe this site map reflects our mission wholeheartedly, we’re intentionally installing a system with malleable components to allow for potential shifting within neighborhoods or intersections as needed. Therefore, if a station is best suited on the other side of the storefront or on an adjacent street, we’ll assess the data, listen to the community and reconfigure.”

The system is the first and largest of its kind in the nation, as Explore Bike Share’s manufacturing partner BCycle was selected by a community board of advisors in Memphis to launch the largest Dash system yet, fueled by solar power with forward-facing touchscreens, whose technology can capture data related to miles ridden, calories burned, and popular routes. The new technology allows for malleability both physically and geographically.

Another first for the bike share industry is Explore Bike Share’s two stations in West Memphis, Arkansas, making Explore Bike Share the first two-state Dash system in the country.

“We’ve felt the impact of bike traffic into West Memphis due to the connectivity of Big River Crossing, so we knew we needed to invest in this bike share system,” said Jim Jackson, Executive Director of the West Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Explore Bike Share has been identified as a national model for its equitable engagement prior to launch.

“Rather than simply putting bikes on the street and reacting, we’re proactively giving Memphians the opportunity to have ownership over these bikes and their locations,” said Sara Studdard, Community Engagement & Marketing Director. “They’re putting pins in a map, guiding our site planning practice, and even eagerly unboxing the bikes hours after arrival into the market. We’re grateful for the involvement from every kind of Memphian imaginable. This system truly is built for Memphis by Memphians.”

To implement the system itself, Explore Bike Share has hired a growing team of locally-hired bike technicians, led by new Bike Fleet Manager Jon Peg, who previously ran operations at Revolutions Bicycle Co-Op. Charence King an Orange Mound resident and volunteer with Explore Bike Share since 2015, has joined the team, along with Ellis Clemons from Advance Memphis.

The operations team is currently implementing technology as a result of over 300 community volunteers’ sign-ups to physically “unbox” the 600 box-shipment of bikes in February.

“Explore Bike Share’s tangible examples of community mobilization are a model for other organizations to follow,” said Steve Nash, Executive Director of Advance Memphis. “My forklift drivers were engaged to unload the bikes, and now our graduate Ellis has been hired full-time as a bike technician. Advance Memphis is honored to be involved—and we’re excited to get a bike share station across the street, too!”

“We are fortunate to have this team onboard to build and implement BCycle’s smart kit technology,” said Operations Director Rajah Brown. “We’ve been working every day in the warehouse to get these bikes fully equipped for ridership. Explore Bike Share is not just a transportation and tourism amenity—it is a fullyrunning business hiring local workforce.”

Explore Bike Share’s revenue relies on usage and sponsorship. Its membership costs are committed to being affordable for visitors and all Memphians whether through community partnerships or existing health programs. Membership options are as follows:

• Single Ride: $5
• Weekly Membership: $12
• Monthly Membership: $15
• Annual Membership: $120

Weekly, monthly and annual memberships offer users unlimited 60-minute rides from one station to another. If more than 60 minutes pass before the user docks their bike at a station, overtime usage fees will apply. However, users may dock from one station to the next to ensure their hourly allowance does not expire.

Membership will be offered closer to actual launch, but two payment opportunities are now live on the new website explorebikeshare.com: the “name on a bike” dedication and “Give Your Neighbor a Lift” donation opportunities.

For $500, one can dedicate a bike with a name of your choice (with a 25-character limit), to be printed and installed on a bike share bike’s front fork for all to see and appreciate. An one-year annual membership will be included in the transaction.

A “Give Your Neighbor a Lift” membership for $200 will support an annual membership for both yourself and a member of the Memphis community in need of greater transportation access. This missional model, thanks to the generosity of Memphians, will secure access to more citizens. Donors will receive a code to redeem membership when membership sign-ups become publicly available.

“We’ve said from day one that every Memphian deserves access to quality transportation options,” said Roshun Austin, Explore Bike Share board member and Executive Director of The Works CDC in South Memphis. “We’re all paying it forward with Explore Bike Share, whether through a ‘Give Your Neighbor a Lift’ donation, a new bike programming series around town, or simply advocacy for our organization.”

Explore Bike Share’s new look, which is now live on explorebikeshare.com and social media channels, brings a new color palette and brand elements of energy, spirit and ease. The headline, “It’s just like riding a bike,” reflects the approachability that this transportation amenity can offer Memphians and visitors, no matter the distance. Bikes, station kiosks, and other assets, branded by DCA, will be embedded in the market throughout implementation this Spring.

“When the effort was initiated three years ago, the name ‘Explore Bike Share’ was deliberately chosen not to bring bike share to Memphis, but rather to explore people’s thoughts and reactions for bike share’s potential success,” said Sara Studdard. “When the effort yielded a positive reaction, a 501(c)3 was established—and when discussion of system name came up, it was unanimously approved that EBS would be fantastic transition to the trade name. Now, Explore Bike Share has become a call to action for the consumer to see the city and explore Memphis via bike share.”

System sponsors’ brands will affect Explore Bike Share’s bike baskets, payment kiosks, and other physical and digital elements based on level of investment. Sponsors will be revealed at launch.

“While bike share is an incredible marketing tool recognized by leading national companies, it’s new to Memphis,” said Executive Director Trey Moore. “Nonetheless, we’re actively receiving calls from Memphis businesses across all levels who realize the overwhelming benefits of brand association with bike share, from HR and employee recruitment/retention to public relations and marketing exposure to over 11 million annual tourists as well as our citizens. We’re excited for all to illustrate their commitment to and benefit from this unique and transformational effort.”

Learn more at explorebikeshare.com 

 

ABOUT EXPLORE BIKE SHARE. Explore Bike Share is a Memphis 501(c)3 that is implementing a robust bike share system and transportation tool to advance the city on multiple fronts—including but not limited to transportation, tourism, health, environment, and culture—with access to as many Memphians as possible. Initially launching with a 600-bike system in Spring 2018, the system will expand to 900 bikes by 2019. For more information, visit explorebikeshare.com

Symposium to take place in Indianapolis April 30 and May 1

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. today announced that it is hosting its first Indianapolis Cultural Trail Symposium presented by Rundell Ernstberger &Associates on April 30 and May 1, 2018.  The Cultural Trail Symposium will provide a deep dive into the planning, design, construction and management of the world renowned Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. 

“The Indianapolis Cultural Trail has transformed the way communities around the world are approaching economic development, city planning, tourism and transportation infrastructure,” said Indianapolis Cultural Trail Executive Director, Kären Haley. “This symposium is a unique opportunity to learn how the Cultural Trail evolved from an idea to reality, our governance and sustainability model and the impact it has had the local community and Indianapolis economy.”

Registration is available online and early bird discounts are available.  The first of its kind symposium takes place in advance of the PlacesForBikes conference happening in Indianapolis later the same week. Hosting the symposium in advance of the PlacesForBikes Conference provides a unique opportunity for people from around the country to experience both opportunities during the same week.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail Symposium will start with a comprehensive, behind the scenes tour of the eight mile Trail on the afternoon of Monday, April 30 and will continue on Tuesday, May 1, 7:30am to 12:30p.m. at Cummins Inc. Global Distribution Headquarters, one of the newest buildings to be built along the Cultural Trail.   Participants may also take part in an optional tour of Cummins at the conclusion of the Symposium.

Speakers and panelists for the Indy Cultural Trail Symposium include:

                        Kären Haley, Executive Director, Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. 

                        Brian Payne, President and CEO, Central Indiana Community Foundation

                        Lori Miser, former Director, City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works

                        Kevin Osborn, Principle, Rundell Ernstberger & Associates

                        Mindy Taylor Ross, Principle, Art Strategies

Full agenda including speakers and panelists is available online.

ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS CULTURAL TRAIL, INC.:  ICT is the world class leader in urban trails and linear parks and is committed to a sustainable funding model that ensures accessible connections for future generations on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail:  A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. We enrich lives and connect people and places through dynamic and beautiful experiences, using the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and Pacers Bikeshare program as a catalyst for economic growth. For more information visit IndyCulturalTrail.org, on Twitter @INCulturalTrail, Instagram @IndyCulturalTrail or facebook.com/indyculturaltrail.

ABOUT RUNDELL ERNSTBERGER & ASSOCIATES: REA is a multidisciplinary firm providing urban design, landscape architecture, planning, and civil engineering services focused on transformational site planning, design and placemaking solutions. For more information visit www.reasite.com, on Twitter @REA_Site, on Instagram @rundell.ernstberger, or facebook.com/rundellernstberger.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Kären Haley
Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. 
317-721-8010 (cell), khaley@indyculturaltrail.org

DENVER—Feb. 20, 2018—Denver B-cycle and Kaiser Permanente will celebrate the return of Kaiser Permanente’s Monday’s Motivation campaign in 2018, when the bike sharing system can be accessed without a charge on the last Monday of each month. The offer is open to all.
 
Riders who check out a bike on a Monday’s Motivation day should keep an eye out for “Blue Tickets” on select Kaiser Permanente-wrapped bikes. Each “Blue Ticket” will be redeemable for a prize.  There will also be one special “unicorn” bike sporting a Kaiser Permanente design and a unique blue metallic wrap, the only metallic bike in the system.
 
Kaiser Permanente & Denver B-cycle have set a goal to reach 5,000 complimentary trips in 2018—an estimated 20,743 miles of riding (based on average ridership data), an estimated 19,601 pounds of carbon emissions avoided, and an estimated 824,934 calories burned. Last year, the first year of Kaiser Permanente’s support of Monday’s Motivation, riders took 3,010 complimentary trips.
 
“These days provide a way for new riders to try our system and see how convenient and easy it is to use. Making Denver B-cycle part of your routines starts with circling a Monday on your calendar and trying it,” said Denver B-cycle executive director Nick Bohnenkamp. “The look of the wrapped bikes is great and we appreciate being a part of Kaiser Permanente’s vision in supporting health & transit in our city”.
 
The complimentary access passes are valid for 24 HR Kiosk purchases only. It is not valid for access passes purchased on DenverBcycle.com or on the BCycle App. All B-cycle riders will need to swipe a credit card to check out at a B-cycle kiosk, standard overtime fees will apply to trips over 30 minutes.
 
Riders who find a “Blue Ticket” will need to share a photo of themselves with their “Blue Ticket” and Kaiser Permanente wrapped B-cycle bike to redeem. There are three ways to redeem:

• Post your photo on Instagram and tag Denver B-cycle (@denverbcycle)
• Post your photo to Facebook and tag Denver B-cycle (@Bcycle.denver)
• Send your photo and contact information to info@denverbcycle.org.

The complimentary Mondays in 2018, thanks to Kaiser Permanente, are Feb. 26, March 26, April 30, May 28, June 25, July 30, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 29, Nov. 26, and Dec. 31.



ABOUT DENVER BIKE SHARING

Denver B-cycle is presented by Kaiser Permanente in association with a variety of community sponsors. Denver B-cycle is owned and operated by Denver Bike Sharing, a charitable, non-profit organization. Denver Bike Sharing serves as a catalyst for a fundamental transformation by operating a bike sharing system in Denver to enhance mobility while promoting all aspects of sustainability: quality of life, equity, the environment, economic development, and public health. To learn more about Denver Bike Sharing, the owner and operator of Denver B-cycle, visit denver.bcycle.com or call 303-825-3325.
 
ABOUT KAISER PERMANENTE COLORADO

Kaiser Permanente Colorado is the state’s largest nonprofit health plan, working to improve the lives and health of all Coloradans for 49 years. We are comprised of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado and the Colorado Permanente Medical Group—one of the state’s largest medical groups with more than 1,200 physicians. We provide comprehensive care for our 660,000 Kaiser Permanente Colorado members through 31 medical offices across the state—from Pueblo to Greeley and in Summit and Eagle counties. We are also committed to our social mission and in 2017, proudly directed more than $122 million to community benefit programs to improve the health of all Coloradans. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit kp.org/share or follow us @kpcolorado or like us facebook.com/kpcolorado.

Media Contact:
Mark Stevens
mstevens@ecentral.com
720-328-5488 (office); 303-495-8699 (cell)

Partnership with University of Texas to pilot no-cost student memberships and campus area locations



AUSTIN- Austin B-cycle and the University of Texas at Austin launched an 18-month pilot test of bike share services on campus and in the West Campus neighborhood on Wednesday, February 14. This service expansion includes nine new Austin B-cycle station locations and a new no-cost membership for UT students.

“We are excited to partner with the University of Texas to provide students with an
affordable, easy way to get across campus as well as off-campus housing and downtown,” said Elliott McFadden, Executive Director of Austin B-cycle. “We have received a lot of interest from UT students and staff in more B-cycle locations to serve the campus area, and we are happy to meet that demand.”

UT students will be able to enroll online at UTbikeshare.com or through the B-Cycle app for a no-charge annual membership with Austin B-cycle. UT faculty and staff are eligible for a half-off the Local365 annual membership. Anyone with a B-Cycle membership is eligible for unlimited trips of up to an hour between stations as well as the B-connected program that recognizes memberships in other partner B-cycle systems including San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth.

“We are pleased to work with Austin B-cycle to test bike share on campus through August 2019 to see how this service will impact campus mobility,” said Bobby Stone, Director of UT Parking and Transportation Department.

The City of Austin, owner of the Austin B-Cycle system, will evaluate the pilot program to determine how it can serve as a model for increasing access to bike share for other colleges and universities elsewhere in the City.

“Improving access to cycling is an important part of the Austin Bicycle Plan, and Austin Bcycle is a critical tool in lowering barriers to riding a bike,” said Laura Dierenfield, the Active Transportation Manager at the City of Austin. “We see this B-cycle expansion as a key strategy in offering an affordable transportation option for students to get to work, school and career building opportunities.”

ABOUT AUSTIN B-CYCLE

Austin B-cycle is the bike share system for the City of Austin. It is a partnership between the City of Austin, the system owner, and Bike Share of Austin, the non-profit operator. Since its launch in 2013, Austin B-cycle has recorded 730,000 rider trips covering 2.1 million miles helping Austinites and visitors burn 87 million calories, offset 2 million pounds of carbon, and avoid over 165,000 car trips. With this expansion, the system grows from 54 stations and 435 bikes to 63 stations and 520 bikes. More info about the program at AustinBcycle.com.

I wanted to share some exciting news with you about changes made to the Fort Worth Bike Sharing system.

Fort Worth Bike Sharing is now offering unlimited one-hour rides to all customers who purchase 24-hour memberships. Previously, a 24-hour membership included unlimited rides of 30 minutes. The cost for the 24-hour membership remains the same at $8 plus tax, per bike. There will be no change to the monthly, semester or annual membership terms at this time. 

This change comes after considering customer feedback and research that shows the average trip time between stations to be 42 minutes. Allowing one-hour trips means customers will now feel less pressure to dock their bike within 30 minutes to avoid what used to be a $1.50 usage fee. 

It is important to remember that a 24-hour membership entitles the rider to multiple one-hour trips, not just one. The customer can RIDE, RETURN, REPEAT for 24 hours. Our fee structure is meant to encourage riders to dock their bike while not in use, thus sharing it with other members of the system. 

Fort Worth Bike Sharing invites the community to try out the new unlimited one-hour rides in February during its $1 Wednesday promotion. When using promo code 2222 at any station, 24-hour memberships will be just $1, plus tax every Wednesday in February.

ABOUT FORT WORTH BIKE SHARING:

Fort Worth Bike Sharing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization responsible for operating Fort Worth BCycle. Bike sharing is a mode of transportation based on shared use of public bicycles.

The concept began at the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA), which received a grant from the Federal Transit Administration to help establish the program.

Fort Worth Bike Sharing launched its system on April 22, 2013. Fort Worth Bike Sharing has 46 stations across Downtown, the Cultural District, the Trinity Trails, the Stockyards, Near Southside and on TCU’s campus. To see a full system map, visit www.fortworthbikesharing.org.

The mission of Fort Worth Bike Sharing is to enhance the community by providing an affordable, efficient, environmentally friendly bike share program that complements the existing public transportation system and provides residents and visitors a healthy, convenient way to move around Fort Worth.

Winter Warriors Depend on Bike Share to Get to Work

INDIANAPOLIS -  Despite the bitter cold temperatures Indianapolis has seen over the past two months, Pacers Bikeshare, a program of Indianapolis Cultural Trail, has taken more than 3,750 trips since December 1. The time of year when most people are warming up the car before their morning commute, the Pacers Bikeshare team is clearing snow off bike share stations and replacing batteries in the solar powered bike share stations ensuring that riders have dependable transportation.

Pacers Bikeshare, like the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick, is accessible year round, 24 hours a day. Indy visitors and especially Indy residents rely on both to be available for their daily commute. The top three winter warrior riders alone have amassed over 500 miles on bike share during the past two months.

“Riding Pacers Bikeshare is the fastest way to move in downtown Indianapolis and more importantly the fastest way to burn down calories," said one of the top Winter Warriors and Pacers Bikeshare annual user, Alberto Smargiassi. “The cold morning air also helps to wake up in the morning, which is not bad if you’re headed to work!”

 For a limited time, Pacers Bikeshare day passes are available at a discounted rate of $5 through the Winter Pricing special that runs through the end of February.  Monthly passes, announced in 2017, are available for $15 per month and provide unlimited 30 minute trips for a 30 day period. 

“Like the Cultural Trail, we keep Pacers Bikeshare stations clear of snow and ice through the winter season,  said Pacers Bikeshare Operations Manager Joshua Tharp. “Our bike share operations team works diligently to maintain power at our solar powered bike share stations during our gray winter days so that people can continue to rely on our system every day of the year.”

To learn more about our Pacers Bikeshare operations, read our latest blog post.

Top Winter Warrior Riders - December 1, 2017 - January 31, 2018

1. Steven Matchett: 96 bike share trips, 150 miles ridden
2. Alberto Smargiassi: 80 bike share trips, 184 miles ridden
3. Rob Hite: 71 bike share trips, 121 miles ridden

Pacers Bikeshare 2017 Ridership

Total Trips: 101,197

Day Passes Purchased:  21,047 

Monthly Passes Purchased: 369

Annual Passes Purchased: 1122

Miles Ridden: 205,803

Calories Burned: 8,166,656

Carbon Offset: 194,853 lbs

Indiana Pacers Bikeshare, a program of Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. launched on April 22, 2014 and has 251 bikes and 29 stations on or near the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick.

 

Media Contact: 

Kären Haley

Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. 

317-721-8010 mobile

KHaley@indyculturaltrail.org

11.17.17 | 17-EBS-0214

MEMPHIS, TN—Explore Bike Share, a local 501(c)3 that is implementing a robust and inclusive 600-bike bike share system in Memphis next Spring, has officially opened its search for a Community Engagement &Marketing Director (CEMD).

Explore Bike Share’s CEMD will support the Executive Director across program development, community outreach, marketing, sponsorship, and workplace culture.

Initially, the CEMD will collaborate with both the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to develop a deep knowledge of the field, core programs, operations, and Explore Bike Share’s revenue model. In accordance with Explore Bike Share’s stated values, the CEMD will ensure equity in program delivery so that unbanked, low-income and non-web-enabled individuals and communities have robust access to the program.

“This compelling leadership role not only ensures that Explore Bike Share is successful from a ridership perspective, but also ensures that the ridership reflects the authenticity of Memphis through robust community engagement, neighborhood partnerships, and effective programming,” said Porsche Stevens, Community Relations Coordinator of Crosstown Arts and Crosstown Concourse and Explore Bike Share board member.

To that end, Explore Bike Share is seeking a passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills to fill the role. Applicants must show excellence in organizational management and the ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.

In placing 60 stations and 600 bikes throughout Orange Mound, Uptown, Midtown, Downtown, South Memphis, and Binghampton, Explore Bike Share will be introducing the largest bike share system of its kind in the nation.

Once the system is rolling in Memphis next spring, the CEMD will be responsible for expanding local revenue generating and fundraising activities and ensuring ongoing local programmatic excellence through rigorous evaluation, among other team-oriented tasks.

To learn more about Explore Bike Share’s Community Engagement & Marketing Director position and view its job description, visit explorebikeshare.com/careers Interested applicants may submit their resume to info@explorebikeshare.com. Applications will be accepted through December 1.

ABOUT BIKE SHARE. Bike share is an innovative transportation program, ideal for short distance point-to point trips providing users the ability to pick up a bicycle at any self-serve bike station and return it to any other bike station located within the system's service area. Bike share operates in over 119 U.S. cities to date.

ABOUT EXPLORE BIKE SHARE. Explore Bike Share is a Memphis 501(c)3 with a mission to create and implement a transportation tool to advance the city on multiple fronts—including but not limited to transportation, tourism, health, environment, and culture—through the development and operation of a bike sharing program with access to as many Memphians as possible. Initially launching with a 600-bike system by Spring 2018, the system will expand to 900 bikes by 2019. For more information, visit explorebikeshare.com.

Launching April 11^th with 5 stations and 35 bikes Clemson University joins the BCycle family! Students, faculty and staff can now use bike share to get from class to class and building to building.  Riders can sign up online and stop by Clemson’s Parking and Transportation Services office to pick up their membership card and helmet, included with their membership.  The bright orange bikes are easy to spot but don’t miss their unicorn bike, a custom branded gold bike in honor of the Clemson Tigers’ recent win of the College Football National Championship.  

Move Kicks Off Grand Avenue Revitalization, Places Bublr at Center of Regional Network

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin– Bublr Bikes, a non-profit organization that operates a rapidly growing bike-sharing network in the Milwaukee area, will move its headquarters and bicycle maintenance facility into the Shops of the Grand Avenue, becoming the initial permanent tenant in the property’s redevelopment, it was announced Thursday.

Bublr is making the move to locate its office, maintenance and retail facilities at the center of its growing transportation network, said James Davies, Bublr’s acting executive director.

“With our new offices in the Grand Avenue, we will be close to customers, near potential bike-maintenance workers and at the center of our growing regional network in an area that is a gathering place and connector for all Milwaukeeans,” Davies said. “We’re also proud that we will be an anchor tenant in the revitalization of the Grand Avenue and tied to other nearby redevelopments, such as the Milwaukee Symphony’s planned relocation into the former Grand Theater across the street from us and the new Bucks arena just blocks away. This location will position Bublr to grow to become an even more viable transportation option for people all over Milwaukee.”

Bublr will be the first permanent tenant in the redevelopment plans of the Grand Avenue Mall. A new Bublr kiosk will be installed outside the Grand Avenue entrance, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., this year. A mini Bublr station may be installed inside the building itself, immediately outside the group’s offices.

The Bublr Bikes system is a public-private partnership between the City of Milwaukee and Bublr Bikes, with additional support from many other public and private partners. Since Summer 2014, Bublr Bikes, a Milwaukee-based not-for-profit, has launched 57 bike share stations in several City of Milwaukee neighborhoods and Wauwatosa. In coming years, the system plans to expand to over 100 stations and 800 Bublr Bikes in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, West Allis and Shorewood.

As part of a long-term lease, Bublr will take over 6,275 square feet in the Grand Avenue that will include the group’s offices, a facility to maintain its fleets of bikes, currently totaling 512, and a customer service counter offering walk-in assistance, system passes and Bublr merchandise. The new location is close to the Wisconsin Avenue entrance and next to Boston Store. The new Bublr space most recently housed a jewelry accessories store and previously a national record-store chain.

Bublr employs 5 people full time and from 9 to 15 part-time workers, up from 1 full-time  employee when it launched in 2014.

The Shops of Grand Avenue, in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee, was created as an urban shopping plaza in the 1980s. In December 2015, The Aggero Group and Minneapolis developer Hempel Cos. bought the property. The new owners have announced plans to redevelop the Grand Avenue into a mixed-use project including retail, entertainment, office and other uses that will be unveiled in early 2017.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he was pleased by Bublr’s move to the Grand Avenue. “Bublr Bikes connects people with destinations all around Milwaukee,” Barrett said. “With today’s announcement, the organization is connecting with a location that is enjoying renewed vitality.”

Tony Janowiec, a principal of the Grand Avenue’s ownership team, said, “Bublr fits our redevelopment plans perfectly. When the opportunity came to provide Bublr a permanent home in the heart of downtown and Bublr’s network, we knew we had to make it a reality.  Our redevelopment plans are all about what makes Milwaukee such a cool place to live and work, which has been Bublr’s goal from its inception. We are proud that they will now call the Grand Avenue home.”

Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, said, “Bublr Bikes is all about movement in this community and we are happy for them on their new move to the Shops of Grand Avenue.  May they continue to momentum in moving the organization and their great service forward.”

Stacie Callies, executive director of the Westown Association, said, “Bublr Bikes is an important component of developing a comprehensive, integrated transportation system in Milwaukee. We are excited that Bublr has chosen to add to the positive momentum in Westown by locating its headquarters in the heart of the area at the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Bublr will be moving from space in the Schlitz Park office complex. Schlitz Park was one of Bublr’s original sponsors and made arrangements for space to allow for Bublr growth. “We offer our deepest gratitude to Schlitz Park partners Gary Grunau and Scott Sampson, who helped incubate Bublr by donating critically needed space at Schlitz for the past year and a half,” Bublr Board President Bruce Keyes said. “Our growth and current success would not be possible without their support.”

Bublr riders pay as little as $3 per 30-minute ride, or $15 monthly for unlimited 60-minute rides, returning their bikes to any system station. They pay with credit cards at station kiosks. Annual passes are also available. Bublr provides discounted and subsidized passes to a variety of corporate partners, students and City of Milwaukee Housing Authority residents.

Information on using Bublr Bikes is available at BublrBikes.com. Bublr Bikes is on social media at: Facebook and Twitter. News media can download Bublr Bikes logos and images at bublrbikes.com/media

MEDIA CONTACTS
Jeff Bentoff
Bublr Media Relations
(414) 465-8710
jeff@bentoff.com

James Davies
Bublr Acting Executive Director
(262) 880-7815
James@BublrBikes.com

New alliance combines best-in-class bike share systems with operational excellence

MADISON, Wisconsin and PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - Bicycle Transit Systems (Bike Transit) and BCycle have signed a strategic alliance agreement to cement the relationship of the industry-leading bike share operator and equipment provider. Since 2015, the companies have implemented four bike share systems together: Philadelphia’s Indego bike share, Los Angeles’ Metro Bike Share, Las Vegas’ RTC Bike Share and Oklahoma City’s Spokies bike share (relaunch). As part of the strategic alliance, BCycle’s parent, Trek Bicycle, is making an equity investment in Bike Transit.

“I am elated to cement this relationship with BCycle and Trek, as we are both best-in-class bike share service providers, and committed to creating an optimal bike share customer experience,” said Alison Cohen, President and CEO of Bicycle Transit Systems. “I am proud to team with BCycle, a company with strong financial stability, highly professional operations and people who share our key values of under-promising, over-delivering and acting with integrity, honesty and kindness in all dealings.”

This transaction will allow the two companies to offer communities in the US and internationally world-class, premium bike share operations, equipment, software and service. Trek’s investment ensures financial stability for the company, as well as the ability to rapidly expand current systems and launch new systems.

“We are committed to finding additional ways for even more communities to introduce bike share to their residents and visitors,” Burns said. “Bike Transit’s proven leadership in bike share operations is undeniable. Our experience with them has been extremely positive, and we can’t wait to work together to offer even more communities an integrated bike share ecosystem that furthers the bicycle’s – and bike share’s – role in public transit.”

The strategic alliance allows for collaborative product development and operations to ensure that cities receive a system that works best for their needs, starting with a seamless install to consistent operations and customer service. Cities looking to bring bike share to their communities can now enjoy the benefit of “one stop shopping” by working with BCycle and Bike Transit through this new strategic alliance. BCycle will provide the hardware and software while Bike Transit will provide full-service operations.

BCycle currently has more than 1,290 stations and 11,000 bikes on the ground in 43 communities in North and South America, while Bike Transit operates bike share programs in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Las Vegas.

About Bicycle Transit Systems

Bicycle Transit Systems is a leader in bike share system implementation and operation. We have the most experienced team in the US in launching bike share programs of all sizes. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Bicycle Transit Systems manages Philadelphia’s Indego bike share, Los Angeles’ Metro Bike Share, Las Vegas’ RTC Bike Share and Oklahoma City Spokies. Before forming Bike Transit, the company’s founders launched and expanded the earliest and largest bike share programs in the US. Bicycle Transit Systems provides hands-on operation of bike share systems for large and small bike share systems. The company’s mission is to make bike sharing a safe, easy, accessible and enjoyable way to get around.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Marina Marich
BCycle
(847) 868-2049
mmarich@bcycle.com

Alison Cohen
Bicycle Transit Systems
(267) 428-2453
acohen@bicycletransit.com