Danville Parks and Recreation hosted a ribbon cutting Friday, marking the opening of the Danville Rides Bike Share Program.
“The Danville Rides Program is a way to provide transportation and recreation to the citizens of Danville,” said Bill Sgrinia, Danville Parks and Recreation Department Director. “Users can check out a bike from one of our five bike lockers situated conveniently along the Riverwalk Trail and return the bike to the same or a different locker when they are done using it; all for a very minimal fee.”
The bike share docking stations will consist of 10 locks and five bikes, allowing users to travel from one unit to another without having to make a return trip. Stations will be located at the Biscuitville, Main Street Plaza, Crossing at the Dan and Dan Daniel Park Riverwalk Trailheads and in front of the Danville Train Station. Bikes also come outfitted with a retractable locking cable, allowing users to secure the bike to any fixed object during the rental period.
The Crossing at the Dan and Train Station trailhead lockers were opened Friday. All docking stations have been installed and bikes can be dropped off at any of the five stations; additional bikes will be deployed soon.
“Whether its transportation or recreation, these bikes make the whole trail more accessible,” Sgrinia added. “As a department, we want to see Danville a happy and healthy place; bicycling offers many benefits and one of the biggest is an active lifestyle.”
Bikes can be accessed through the Zagster Mobile App, available for iPhone and Android. Each bike has a unique number which riders, ages 18 and up, will enter into the app to unlock the docked bike or unlock via bluetooth. The first hour on each ride will be free and $3/hour for each additional hour; the rental period ends when the bike is returned to any of the five locker locations. Payments can be made through the app.
All bikes include a basket, automatic lights, a bell, reflectors and are outfitted with a GPS unit. Users will be able to locate bikes and locker locations through the Zagster Mobile App.
