Less than spring-like weather hasn't stopped deployment of hundreds of neon-green Nice Ride bikes around the Twin Cities.
And this year, the bike-sharing group will add 24 more stations, bringing the total to 170 stations.
Last year, many more stations were added in St. Paul, expanding the reach of the low-cost, short-term bike sharing system. This year, the growth will be be near the Mississippi River area, from Webber Park in the Camden neighborhood to Fort Snelling State Park, Nice Ride says.
And more stations will be added near popular Minneapolis parks, including Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, Lake Nokomis, Minnehaha Falls, Boom Island, Gluek Park, and Riverside Park.
Parts for the new stations are arriving and they will be assembled this month and in early May.
After three years of operations, the group says it has three main parts:
- Network/Daily Transportation Demand
- Attraction Points/Sightseeing and Recreational Demand
- Regional Equity/Underserved, Transit Dependent, and Health Disparity Demand
Network Stations are the core of the transportation system. These stations are used every day by regular users to go to work, meet friends, and get around town.
Attraction Point stations serve residents and tourists who are exploring our parks and trails, museums, and the riverfront. In 2013, we’re expanding our Attraction Point stations in response to public requests.
Regional Equity stations provide expanded access to mobility for residents of underserved neighborhoods. These neighborhoods often do not have the residential density, employment centers, or retail destinations associated with high bike share use. Nice Ride is committed to supporting regional equity, and is working hard to raise funds to help cover operating costs of these stations.
Use of the bikes requires a daily $6 subscription or annual $65 subscription. The first 30 minutes of a ride are then free, with rising costs as the ride time increases. The bikes can be picked up at one station and dropped at another.