| Nice Ride Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Info | |
| Locale | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Transit type | Bicycle sharing system |
| Number of stations | 116 |
| Website | NiceRideMN.org |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | June 10, 2010 |
| Number of vehicles | 1200 |
Nice Ride Minnesota is a nonprofit bicycle sharing system in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota based on the Bixi system from Montreal. Launched on June 10, 2010, it served over 10,000 trips in its first month.[1]
The system presently offers 1,200 bicycles for rent at 116 kiosks in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, making it the second largest bike-share system in the country.[1][2] The solar-powered kiosks are located in public places throughout Minneapolis, with initial expansion to St. Paul beginning in summer 2011 and bike availability can be checked in real-time via smartphone or an online map. In the long term, the network is intended to cover most of Minneapolis and St. Paul.[3] Nice Ride operates from the first week of April through the first week of November. The stations are also removed during the winter in order to protect them from damage and make way for snow plows.[4]
The first half-hour of a Nice Ride rental is free (incremental charges are added for additional time), but a subscription is required.[5] In addition, to prevent theft, Nice Ride places a $50 hold on the accounts of renters who use a 24-hour subscription as opposed to one for a longer period of time.[6] This hold has resulted in some user frustration, and in some cases account overdrafting.[7][8]
The bicycles in the system are painted neon green and include a cargo carrier and headlights. They receive daily maintenance, and are redistributed throughout the system via truck.[3]
Some criticism of Nice Ride was leveled by residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods in North Minneapolis, where no kiosks were installed in Phase 1.[9][10] Nice Ride has responded that while Phase 1 of the implementation was focused on the densest parts of Minneapolis, Phase 2 will include North Minneapolis (specifically Broadway, Summit Academy and International Market Square.)[11]
Startup funding for this program was $3.2 million; major contributors included Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the City of Minneapolis, and a federal transportation grant.[1]
List of bicycle sharing systems
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