$65,000 Better Bike Share Partnership grant will increase engagement in Pittsburgh’s low-income and minority neighborhoods
Healthy Ride, Pittsburgh’s bike sharing system, has announced it will add 125 new bike share stations this year, with a majority of stations to be placed in urban neighborhoods that previously lacked bike share access. The addition the move will bring the city’s total number of bike stations to 175, and the total number of bikes to 700.
A $65,000 grant from the Better Bike Share Partnership will support Healthy Ride in its efforts to expand into new communities. Funds will help to cover the recruitment, hiring, and training of Neighborhood Ambassadors in targeted communities, including East Liberty, the Hill District, Homewood, Larimer, and the North Side. Ambassadors will implement learn-to-ride classes, coordinate registration events at local businesses and partnership organizations, establish group rides, and lead neighborhood marketing.
Healthy Ride has noted that bike share concept has not been embraced in all city neighborhoods, but hopes to change preconceptions through outreach and engagement.
In addition to recreational use, Healthy Ride bikes provide connectivity between public transit stops and business destinations. Bus and light rail users holding a Port Authority of Allegheny County ConnectCard now have access to unlimited 15-minute bike-share trips at no cost, and without the need for a credit card. Bikes are available 24/7, and can be returned at any Healthy Ride kiosk.
Pittsburgh bike sharing by the numbers:
- More than 212,000 bike trips taken by Healthy Ride since the system’s launch (2015) through December 31, 2017.
- More than 64,000 registered users since system launch.
- More than 235,700 miles ridden.
- Healthy Ride’s average trip duration is 56 minutes, as compared to national bike share average trip of 12 minutes.
Media Contact support@healthyridepgh.com / 412.621.0464
