Social bicycle demo in New Orleans is extended until end of March

After a successful two weeks, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced that New Orleans’ Bike Share preview will be extended until March 31, 2017.

Between February 13 and February 23, 128 riders took 235 trips across New Orleans. Together, those riders rode over 500 miles, with each trip averaging two miles.

On February 14, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced that a bike share demo would be available for public use.

Currently, there are nine stations and 35 social bikes available for public use around the city, located primarily in the French Quarter neighborhood.

Bike Share stations and bikes will be found across Iberville, Central City and downtown New Orleans at the following locations:

• Basin Street & Bienville Street (near Magnolia Yoga Studio)
• 501 Loyola Ave. (Near Hyatt)
• Lafayette Square at Magazine Street
• Decatur Street & Bienville Street (Through Feb. 28)
• Baronne Street & Common Street (Near the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel)
• Decatur Street & Barracks Street (near U.S. Mint through Feb. 28)
• Magazine Street & Erato Street (Beginning March 1)
• Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard & Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Beginning March 1)
• 1000 Tchoupitoulas St. (near Cochon Restaurant)
• 219 Loyola Ave. (Library Main Branch – existing bike racks)
• Polymnia Street & St. Charles Avenue (near Avenue Pub – existing bike racks)

Starting now, there are three pricing categories. Individuals can buy a monthly pass for $15 that gives users one hour free a day. Anytime over the free hour, users will be charged $8 an hour on prorated use.

Casual users will be able to rent a bike for $8 an hour. There is also a $20-a-year low income pass that gives users an hour free ride every day.

To rent a bike, individuals have to sign up for an hourly or preview pass at the New Orleans Social Bicycles portal.

This past summer, New Orleans chose the Brooklyn-based Social Bicycles to spearhead its new public transportation program in the fall of 2017. Social Bicycles bike share program is used in over 25 cities, including Atlanta, Tampa and Orlando. In New Orleans, the bike share program will be privately sponsored.

This fall, New Orleans is to get 700 social bicycles and over 70 stations for permanent use. According to the Mayor’s Office, the city will have a minimum of 900 bicycles and over 90 stations in the near future.

• Social bicycle demo in New Orleans starts now [Curbed NOLA]