INDIANAPOLIS — Starting today, Indianapolis will be the first city in the United States to offer all county residents access to a free annual bikeshare pass.
The IndyRides Free is a new program that offers a free annual pass for Pacers Bikeshare to all Marion County residents. A first-of-its-kind program in the nation that provides the public with access to hundreds of e-bikes at no cost.
“While other cities offer reduced-cost or free annual passes to specific groups, to our knowledge, Indy will be the first place where all county residents have access to a free annual bikeshare pass," said Kären Haley, executive director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which manages Pacers Bikeshare.
The city currently boasts 50 bikeshare stations across Indianapolis with hundreds of bikes available for public use including white e-bikes and gold classic bikes. These stations can all be found at the touch of a fingertip with the BCycle mobile app.
“IndyRides Free will move us forward in our quest toward a cleaner, healthier, more mobile city," said Mayor Joe Hogsett.
Hogsett added that traffic congestion and pollution will also be lowered by more people having access to bicycles and e-bikes.
The IndyRides Free annual pass will grant users access to both classic and e-bikes for unlimited 30-minute trips. After 30 minutes, users would be required to pay a usage fee of 25 cents per minute until the bike is returned to a station.
Pacers Bikeshare pricing without the pass is $5 for an e-bike and $2 for a classic bike. E-bikes then cost 25 cents a minute until returned to a station while classic bikes cost 20 cents per minute.
The 325 new e-bikes were funded by a $1.2 million federal Construction Mitigation and Air Quality grant and local funds from the City of Indianapolis. The free annual passes for Marion County residents were made possible through support from the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
“Our focus has always been making positive impact off the court as well as on it, and this important partnership will help create greater connectivity and accessibility for all residents and visitors to our city,” said Rick Fuson, chief executive officer of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. “Being able to do that while also encouraging activities that promote better health and well-being simply adds to the appeal.”
How to sign up
To register for the free annual bikeshare pass, visit www.pacersbikeshare.org. Registration is open now and requires a valid Marion County residential address. An access code will be sent via U.S. mail.
The public is also invited to a launch party on Friday, May 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Indianapolis Cultural Trail headquarters, located at 132 W. Walnut Street. The first 100 Marion County residents to show up with a valid photo ID will be able to register and access their IndyRides Free pass on the spot.
For those who live outside Marion County, a regular annual pass is available for $150 and grants unlimited 60-minute trips on both classic and e-bikes.
“The free annual pass program for Marion County residents is incredible. Anything we can do to encourage and incentivize more physical activity is a good thing," said Dr. Virginia A. Caine, director & chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department.
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