Lyft Introduces Bike Sharing In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA — Lyft launched a brand new electric bike system, providing bike-sharing this week for folks in Santa Monica and throughout the Westside.

There at the moment are greater than 80 Breeze stations providing the hybrid ebikes from Lyft. Breeze is a public bike share program from town of Santa Monica and has provided free bike rides all through the pandemic. Locals can already entry the inexperienced bikes at stations throughout city, and this subsequent transfer from Lyft is the corporate’s first step into bicycle sharing.

“The brand new ebikes will likely be docked on the current Breeze stations, making certain there isn’t a hole in service as soon as the present Breeze program ends in November,” Lyft mentioned in a information launch. “Within the subsequent few months, Lyft will ramp up its fleet to 500 ebikes, turning into Lyft’s second bikeshare community within the nation to go all-electric.”

Folks can take a look at the ebikes within the Lyft app utilizing the bicycle icon. The app will inform customers when there are ebikes close by. You possibly can faucet a station to discover a bike and think about a map. It begins at $1 to unlock + $0.34 per min. Group Cross members will pay $5 monthly and $0.05 per min to journey.

“Whether or not you’re going that first mile or that final mile, ebikes are a enjoyable, reasonably priced technique to get round city,” Lyft mentioned.

Every hybrid ebike additionally comes with a cable to lock to any Breeze station at no cost. You too can lock to a public bike rack throughout the West Los Angeles service space for an additional $1.

Cyclists nonetheless should observe the principles of the street and are inspired to put on helmets. Riders are additionally urged to do a fast pre-ride verify:

• Alter the seat to suit your top.

• Verify the tires and squeeze the brakes.

• One thing amiss? Maintain the ebike locked and faucet the (flag) within the higher right-hand nook of your Lyft app to report the issue. Then select a distinct bike.

• Pedal to begin — and get going.

Bike lanes and roads are the very best routes for cyclists, and bicycles ought to stay off the sidewalk until it is time to park the bike, the corporate mentioned.

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Some areas will likely be off-limits for the Lyft ebikes, together with places in Santa Monica the place pedestrians frequent.

“Because of metropolis rules, pedal help received’t operate in choose areas of town, together with the Seaside Bike Path, Pier, Promenade, and public parks,” based on the corporate.

Soar, which was offered by Uber to Lime, had beforehand positioned electrical bicycles in Santa Monica, nonetheless, the bicycles left town in Might following the sale, based on Santa Monica Daily Press.

Apps like Fowl and Lyft have remained in style all through the previous few months of quarantine in September and the businesses proceed to supply electrical scooters in Santa Monica. Breeze bikes have remained free for riders all through the coronavirus pandemic, with this system scheduled to finish in November. Bike Share Join membership is required to take part within the bike share.

“By way of a partnership with town, we’re excited to convey ebikes to Santa Monica to assist scale back congestion and emissions, by offering one other transportation possibility for residents and guests,” mentioned David Fairbank, Basic Supervisor for Lyft Bikes & Scooters in Southern California. “Santa Monica already is aware of and loves our Lyft scooters, and we’re excited to offer yet one more type of enjoyable, energetic and naturally bodily distant transportation to assist residents get round at the moment. Riders can now simply entry ebikes, in addition to scooters, all with just a few faucets within the Lyft app.”

“I couldn’t be extra excited to see Lyft launch its new ebike program in Santa Monica. Our future is determined by sustainable, energetic transportation like ebikes. They scale back our carbon footprint and enhance accessibility for your complete neighborhood,” mentioned Mayor Professional Tem Terry O’Day.

Lyft additionally presents a Group Cross for bikes and scooters in Santa Monica. The Lyft Group Cross is a reduced-fare membership program for qualifying residents of Santa Monica and LA. Membership prices $5 monthly and contains discounted ebike rides at $0.05 per minute. The Group Cross program is out there to residents ages 18 and older who qualify for the Large Blue Bus Low Earnings Fare is Simple program, Calfresh, Medicaid, SNAP, or the SCE Power Financial savings Help Program and to qualifying Santa Monica Group School college students.

“Santa Monica seems ahead to the supply of Lyft ebikes throughout the metropolis. This new service by Lyft will present folks with one other sustainable and simple possibility for getting round and builds upon town’s many shared mobility efforts that began with the launch of Breeze bikes nearly 5 years in the past,” mentioned Francie Stefan, Chief Mobility Officer, Metropolis of Santa Monica. “Ebikes are rising in recognition due to the great addition they offer to journey extra simply or additional, and as an outside mobility possibility in our year-round temperate local weather.”

Go to Lyft’s web site to be taught extra about ebikes in Santa Monica.

See extra:This article initially appeared on the Santa Monica Patch