All About Bike Shares
Let’s talk about a trend happening all over the world: bike shares! While the first bike share dates back to the 1960s, in recent years the programs have seen a significant upsurge, starting around 2010. The premise of bike share is simple: you can rent a bicycle for a few minutes, hours, or even a day, resulting in a low-cost option for commuting that doesn’t require an investment in expensive equipment. With a multitude of docking stations, your starting and stopping points don’t need to be the same, and you can create a plan based on the most convenient locations for you. Bike shares really are a “for the people” option of transportation. Low cost, low commitment, easy access.
The growth of bike shares continued in Europe, then made its way into the United States. Fast forward to 2016, the first bike share program was established in Memphis – Explore Bike Share (EBS). A registered nonprofit organization, EBS was created by Memphians for Memphians. The goal? Make Memphis as accessible as possible and promote a bike-positive culture.
EBS is a far cry from a 1960s bike share. Utilizing technology to the fullest, all you need to ride is your phone! After downloading the BCycle app, you can store your credit card information and have a bike active in seconds by scanning the code on top. Cost is calculated by the time the bicycle is logged as active. The first 20 minutes of your ride are completely free, and only $0.20 per mile after that. Affordable, convenient, and easy, EBS took Memphis by storm, and before long we saw commuters riding EBS bikes on the streets daily!
Seven years after its first appearance, EBS has expanded its bike fleet exponentially and covers a range from West Memphis to Shelby Farms Park. Bikes can be picked up and dropped off at any of their docking stations throughout the city.
There are so many places to go! We love this as an alternative for getting downtown without the hassle of parking. It is also a great way to experience the Greenline, with stations in both Overton Park and Shelby Farms.
The story doesn’t stop here. As their fleet expands, it also improves! EBS now offers e-bikes, equipped with pedal assist. This means you can ride for longer, and give yourself a little boost when needed! Check out this map to see where your nearest station might be and start your journey. Keep in mind that new stations are being added all the time!