Earlier today, the office of the Mayor announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield will be the title sponsor of the City’s upcoming bike share program.
The office announced that the official name of bike share, in recognition of the sponsor, will be called Blue Bikes. Slated for late fall of 2017, over 70 Blue Bike locations and 700 bicycles, operated by Social Bicycles, will be placed strategically across the city.
Earlier this year, the Office of the Mayor said the upcoming bike share program would be privately sponsored. Over 25 cities, including Atlanta and Orlando, utilize a bike share program powered by Social Bicycles.
In June, Social Bicycles and the City of New Orleans held a citywide voting poll for suggestion stations for blue bikes. The public suggested several station in the Mid-City, Bayou St. John, Treme, 7th Ward, Lower Garden District, Warehouse District, and Central Business District neighborhoods.
In February, New Orleans demoed its upcoming bike share program at limited sites.
At launch, users will be able to by a monthly pass, low-income pass, or be able to pay by the hour.
The monthly pass will be priced at $15/month, which will grant the user unlimited trips up to hour a day. Additional hours will be prorated at $8/hour.
The low-Income pass can be purchased for $1.67/month ($20/year), which provides unlimited trips up to one hour a day. Additional hours will be prorated at $8/hour. All other users can pay-as-you-go for $8/hour.