Fayetteville bike-share program launches Sept. 19

Staff photo

Need to borrow a bike? Fayetteville’s dockless bike-share program officially launches this week.

The new program, created through a partnership with the University of Arkansas and the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission and approved by the city council last month, will make available 290 standard 7-speed bicycles and 50 pedal-electric assist bicycles.

The bikes will be available after the launch event, set for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19 in front of the Fulbright Peace Fountain on the University of Arkansas campus.

The bike share program is administrated by Indiana-based company VeoRide. The company operates programs in nearly 20 cities, including Austin, Texas; Lawrence and Pittsburg, Kansas; and Champaign, Illinois.

VeoRide will offer five free riding coupons (worth $2.50 in credit) to new registered users through Oct. 3. The first 45 bikes are already available to reserve, with the balance to be available after the launch event on Wednesday.

During the event, Chancellor Joe Steinmetz and Mayor Lioneld Jordan are scheduled to speak, and VeoRide representatives will be on hand to answer questions and offer free access to ride the bikes.

After the free trial period, discounted subscriptions will cost $17 per month or $70 annually for regular users. Students, faculty and staff of the Fayetteville Public Schools and the University of Arkansas will pay $10 monthly or $35 per year. Subscriptions for low-income residents will be $4.99 per month or $28.99 annually. Subscribers will receive unlimited one-hour rides. Overage fees would be 50 cents for every 15 additional minutes. A subscription is not required to ride, however.

Bicycles will be available for pickup in and around the downtown area, along city trails, on the UA campus and at other locations.

Pay-per-ride fees are 50 cents per 15 minutes for the standard 7-speed bikes. A $1 unlock fee will be required to ride an e-Bike, and the cost is 10 cents per minute after that.

Would-be-riders can sign up for the program by downloading the VeoRide app. For a bit more information, including links to download the VeoRide app via the App Store and Google Play, visit veoride.com.