The City of Cedar Rapids is launching its first ever bike share program with 150 bikes and 90 bike share stations across the city to promote alternative transportation, wellness and tourism.
"We have been really excited about bike share," Bill Micheel the assistant director for community development in Cedar Rapids aid. "It provides another mode of transportation and it adds a fun amenity to downtown."
The bikes are accessible through the VeoRide app, which enables riders to unlock the bikes for $1, with a charge of 15 cents per each minute of use. A ride from the convention center to NewBo would cost about two dollars. During Bike to Work Week May 13 – 17, residents can use the promo code 5seasons for a $5 credit for a free ride using the new system. VeoRide makes sure the program comes at no cost to the city as bike and bike stations are provided and any repairs, lost or stolen bikes will be payed for by the company.
"It's innovative but that's what cedar rapids is but we kind of do lots of things for the first city in Iowa to do things like this," Brad Hart, the mayor of Cedar Rapids said. "