Fort Worth Bike Sharing Attracting Users
October 28,2013
Photo: Rodger Mallison, Star-Telegram
BY CATY HIRST
chirst@star-telegram.com
FORT WORTH — With over 32,000 miles traveled in the first six months, Fort Worth Bike Sharing is off to a good start, Executive Director Kristen Camareno said.
Since the nonprofit program opened for business in April with 300 bikes and 30 stations, it has acquired 2,515 day-use members and 308 annual members.
Camareno said she expects more annual users and fewer day-use members, because the annual fee is a better deal. But the day-use numbers are better than expected.
Either way, the program is bringing in enough revenue to cover operational expenses, including three full-time staffers, one part-time staffer and part-time bike technicians, Camareno said.
Fort Worth Bike Sharing will offer promotions this fall to attract more annual riders, such as giving incentives for day-use riders to switch to the annual membership, Camareno said.
The program will also issue surveys in the spring to collect data on where people are riding the bikes and what the bikes are being used for most, commuting or recreation.
Fort Worth Bike Sharing was started with a $1 million federal grant and plans to add 10 more bike stations and 100 bikes in 2014 with another grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
For information, bike station locations, rates and how to operate the bikes, visit fortworthbikesharing.org.
Caty Hirst, 817-390-7984 Twitter, @CatyHirst
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