If you love bikes, hate navigating downtown on four wheels or just want a better way to get around the city, it’s time to get excited. The city of Little Rock recently announced a partnership between Metroplan, Bantam Strategy Group and BCycle to bring a brand new bike sharing program to the metro.
Slated for completion in spring of 2018, this project will place 200 bikes in approximately 20 stations around downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock’s Argenta neighborhood. And while transportation is a key sell in bike share programs, Metroplan Executive Director Tab Townsell says it’s about more than that.
“Bike share is among the many transportation options that Metroplan and local municipalities are exploring to make it easier to move around in the region,” Townsell explained in a press release. “Bike share programs are known for adding to the attractiveness and vibrancy in a community, and by selecting an experienced operator with quality equipment, we expect the same will be experienced here.”
This brings us to the bike: the BCycle Dash, an 8-speed bike with an active touchscreen GPS. Riders can even pair the bikes with their smartphones for turn-by-turn directions, all powered by built-in solar panels.
“I am incredibly excited for what this bike share program will bring to our community. Among its myriad benefits, it will decrease the number of cars and increase the number of bikes on our downtown streets during the business day,” Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of Little Rock John Landosky said. “This will make our downtowns safer environments for people on bike or on foot and help create a more walkable and livable community.”
We’re in.
BCycle, Bantam Strategy Group and Metroplan are already moving toward next year’s debut. Learn more about the program on the City of Little Rock website.