This morning, Metro’s bike share program officially launched in Downtown Los Angeles! The festivities started with check-in and mingling at the booths (and excellent drinks and snacks) followed by a press conference. From there folks grabbed their bike share bikes and joined group rides to several bike share stations across the Downtown L.A. area.
Learn more about Bike Share at Metro’s The Source, and sign up at bikeshare.metro.net.
Additionally, thanks to a grant from the Better Bike Share Partnership, LACBC is teaming up with Multicultural Communities for Mobility (MCM) and Metro to help make bike share more equitable for all to use it. Students, seniors, and low-income people can access bike share for a reduced price, but barriers like having not having a credit card or not knowing how to use the the system impact who uses it. MCM and LACBC will lead a team of bicycle safety educators, outreach specialists and researchers to conduct bike safety trainings and presentations, provide materials in English and Spanish to facilitate discussion among community members, and gather feedback about experiences with the system and barriers to use. Read more about this work on Streetsblog Los Angeles and listen to LACBC Executive Director Tamika Butler talk about this partnership on KCRW’s Press Play with Madeleine Brand. If you’re interested in volunteering to do bike share outreach, contact hyeran@la-bike.org.
See more photos from the bike share launch after the jump.
An endless number of bikes were ready for their maiden voyage.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was pumped to kick off the action.
The Multicultural Communities for Mobility booth was very popular.
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis took the stage.
There was a large crowd on hand taking in the festivities.
Metro CEO Phillip Washington thinks Downtown L.A. is just the start.
LACBC Supporter Just Ride LA didn’t have to travel too far to take part.
LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds came ready to ride.
L.A.’s photographer Gary Leonard documented the launch.
Executive Directors Romel Pascual (CicLAvia) and Tamika Butler (LACBC) get ready to roll to Union Station.
We had a Swee sighting!
The inaugural rollout is seconds away!
Soon, the streets were filled with bicyclists!
Everyone was happy to take to the streets.
At the end of the ride, everyone docked their bikes at different stations across downtown. LACBC HQ’s closest station is pictured here at 7th and Spring.