College students around Richmond now have a truly green way to get around, with Eastern Kentucky University recently launching a new bike share program.
Known as LimeBike, the program is different to other types of bike shares because it does not use docking systems. Instead, students can simply leave the bikes in an out-of-the-way area when they are done using them.
Universities launching similar initiatives can use flyer printing to get the word out and to explain how the program works.
Each bike is GPS and 3G-enabled so that administrators of the program can keep tabs on the vehicles and so that students looking for a ride can easily find a bike to use. To ride a bike, a student needs to download an app to their smartphone, create an account and enter a payment method.
When it is time to ride, a person uses the app to "unlock" a nearby bike. People can also use the app to locate available bikes near their current location.
The bike share program is not free, but there are discounts available to students. The normal cost is $1 per half hour. People with an Eastern Kentucky University email address pay just 50 cents per 30 minutes.
Those who plan on using the bikes a lot can buy an annual subscription for $49. The subscription gives people access to unlimited bike rides.
The university is the first one in Kentucky to bring on a dock-free bike share program. So far, the program has been a success, with many students eager to give the new bikes a try.
