America's first 3rd generation (high tech) bike-sharing service launched in August 2008 with SmartBike DC, in April 2010 Denver B-cycle launched, and today marks the launch of the U.S.'s third, and largest, bike-sharing service with Minneapolis's Nice Ride Minnesota. The service is beginning with 700 bikes and 65 stations with plans to expand to 1,000 bikes and 75 stations over the coming weeks in downtown and close-in neighborhoods of Minneapolis as well as the University of Minnesota. Due to Minneapolis's harsh winters, Nice Ride will be available for use between April and November. The annual subscription cost is $60, with a student rate of $50.
Nice Ride Minnesota, a non-profit, is the organization operating the service using Public Bicycle System Co.'s technology. According to Nice Ride's website, "Nice Ride Minnesota was formed through the Twin Cities Bike Share Project, an initiative started by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation in July 2008. After meeting with stakeholder groups and evaluating bike share systems, the Project prepared a non-profit business plan and sought public and private funding." The service was funded through a Federal Highway Administration grant and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Center for Prevention (funded through a tobacco litigation settlement).
With Minneapolis ranking 2nd in the nation for the number of people who commute to work by bicycle as well as being named America's most bike-friendly city by Bicycling Magazine, Minneapolis just got a lot more bike-friendly. Look out Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Minneapolis is pedaling fast to catch up.
image: Nice Ride Minnesota website and Flickr account
I can't wait to hop on one of these bikes. I'm waiting for my key to arrive in the mail. I don't know how much I'll actually need to use one, because I'm already riding, pretty much everywhere anyways, but I want to support it as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteHaving tried it out a few times, I can say that I really think this is going to change things in this city. There's a buzz around town. People see you on these bikes and they go "hey, what's that you're on?" or just "Nice Ride!". I just started volunteering for them and just wearing the Nice Ride t-shirt gets you questions. Which I love trying to answer. It's changing the way people see bikes.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if they will turn the ride stations finder into an app? That would be fantastic given you can find out how many bikes are available at any given time...
ReplyDeleteI think the have an app. Check Nice Ride on Facebook for a link.
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