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How one Wyoming Main Street implemented a free bike share program
The first brand new bike I ever owned was the Giant Acapulco I bought for college. That bike took me to classes, through the mountains, and to the Albany Bar. I still ride it to night shows at Cheyenne Frontier Days and around the neighborhood with my kids. I love that bike and all the memories we’ve had together and I smile every time I ride it.
Bike share programs are a hot thing in Main Street communities across the nation and nostalgia is but one of the many great reasons for the trend. Cycling improves the image of a community, particularly downtowns. It is seen as a hip, modern way to get around. Perceived as both “green” and innovative, cycling initiatives can strengthen a city’s image, while creating more awareness for the downtown, nearby parks, and the paths that connect them.
Cycling offers both physical and mental health benefits. In Cheyenne, 30% of our residents are considered obese. Not only is cycling choice good for physical wellbeing, studies have shown that spending twenty minutes every day on a bike has a significant positive impact on mental health.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, bike share programs provide a valuable transportation method. They offer the opportunity to cycle to those who otherwise may have been prevented by lack of access to a bike. Some people need transportation to work or shop, while others need short distance transportation to lunch. No matter the distance or objective, bike share programs offer an environmentally friendly, convenient mode by which to travel.
After recognizing the many benefits of a bike share program, the Cheyenne DDA/Main Street conducted research on how to develop and implement our own free program. At the same time, a few other key community members were independently having the same conversation. Once we realized everyone was seeking the same goals, we combined forces and created Re-Ride Me Cheyenne.
With minimal funds, an enormous amount of volunteer hours, and a solid vision, we were able to implement this program in three short months. City Councilman, Richard Johnson, rallied the bike donations from the community and helped organize a kick-off activity. City of Cheyenne’s Park and Recreation Department member, Jeff Wiggams, developed a route map. Cheyenne DDA/Main Street, who owns the programs, funded $5,000 for supplies, a website and logo development. We also researched liability issues, and managed, and continue to manage, related press and social media.
A local bike shop, Rock on Wheels, donated hundreds of hours repairing and painting the bikes yellow to brand them for Re-Ride. They also built and placed bike racks throughout the community. Three times a week, Rock on Wheels ensures the bikes are inventoried and inspected, making necessary repairs.
Rock on Wheels staff pose with their handiwork.
For every problem, find a solution.
Program sustainability has always been front of minds in implementing Re-Ride. We repair and replace bikes as needed, educate about bike safety, and restrict use to adults to reduce liability risk.
The system is free. Initially, we put out 45 bikes at seven locations. At first, the bikes were unlocked, counting on the “honor system” for their return. This did not work very well and within three weeks 80% of the bikes had not been returned.
There was an uproar amongst users and community members. People were reporting Re-Ride bicycle sightings left and right: under bridges, south of town, in the basement of bars. We started a Facebook page called “The Amazing Adventures of Bike #20 of Cheyenne Re-Ride” to encourage people to watch for our bikes and share stories of their adventures. (Scroll through the page for a better idea of the trials and tribulations involved in bike recovery.) When we found one of our bikes at a local strip club, Richard took a photo and captioned it “our angel’s wings just got dirty”. Through it all we never lost our sense of humor, and the fire department, police department, and many citizens, helped us recover most of the bikes within a few weeks. As a community we found our bikes—and a solution.
The first solution was to implement an old fashioned chain and lock system. At each location, users are required to leave a photo ID to check out the bike. The ID is returned when the bike is returned. The obvious difficulty here is that few locations are open in the evenings or weekends. So, we also added combo locks to some of the bikes. Users can now call Rock on Wheels, leave a credit card number and receive a code. The code is reset after the bike is checked for damaged. This allows for a little more evening and weekend use, but not unlimited use, and, unfortunately, this system is not accessible to people without credit cards. Rock on Wheels is developing a phone application that will allow users to receive a code at any time, which should be available in 2017. The DDA anticipates applying for a transportation grant with the Metropolitan Planning Office, which would allow the system to advance even further in 2018.
Because of Wyoming’s inclement weather, the program will only operate from April through October this year. Bikes will be stored in a large shed owned by the City of Cheyenne Parks and Recreation Department during the winter. The community continues to donate bicycles and we have 100 in storage to be refurbished and branded. The goal is to put out even more bikes next year.
Amy Surdam and friend rejoice over the recovery of bike #23.
We have learned not to force our program to fit into a mold. Our community has different needs than another. Users tend to be tourists and those who need access to free transportation, rather than commuters or local leisure travel as we first anticipated. We aren’t a college town, but we do have a nearby transient center. The center’s residents use Re Ride bikes to find jobs and then go to work, the gym, or recovery meetings. Helping people succeed in life has been an unexpected, yet rewarding outcome.
Overall, people love the program. They love finding the bike they donated painted yellow and they love seeing people use them. More than anything, the bikes have built smiles for our Main Street.
How to start a bike share program in three easy steps:
1. Start small.
2. For every problem, find a solution.
3. Enjoy it for what it is.
Bike Share partners should include:
1. Main Street
2. Parks and Recreation
3. Police Department
4. Fire Department
5. A bike shop
6. Citizens
For more information, visit www.downtowncheyenne.com or www.reridecheyenne.com. Or, contact the Cheyenne DDA/Main Street at 307-433-9730, amy@downtowncheyenne.com
Amy Surdam has proudly lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, since age 11. She graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1996 with a BSN, and in 2004 with a MSN. She currently serves in the Wyoming Army National Guard as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is the Executive Director of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority/Main Street. Amy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, and creating a better tomorrow.
REV Birmingham and Woodlawn United share how they work to reenergize spaces and places in Birmingham, Alabama, through civic infrastructure projects in the city’s historic commercial corridors.
Learn how this Louisiana town has used an accessibility-first approach to build a welcoming and inclusive community.
Downtown Ruston, Louisiana. Photo by Henry McCoy.
Learn how the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta uses this unique mural program to celebrate Valentine's Day and raise important funding for their work.
Learn how micromobility can increase access, equity, and inclusion in your Main Street with examples from local programs across the network.
This Washington Main Street is encouraging people to brave the rainy weather with their free umbrella share program.
Parking is a challenging problem for many Main Streets. We explored the arguments for and against free parking, and a method for conducting an inventory of parking in your downtown.
Miami, FL © Matt Alaniz
Learn how Bainbridge Island Downtown Association leverages their connection to the ferry to create a walkable and vibrant downtown.
Bainbridge Island, WA © Anna Carson
An innovative artistic project brings new life to the alleyways in Billings, Montana.
Billings, MT © Downtown Billings Alliance
In big cities and small towns, people face increasing danger when navigating communities on foot. As advocates for connected and walkable downtowns, Main Streets have a crucial role to play in increasing pedestrian safety.
Lansing, Michigan © Lansing 5:01
Learn how you can participate in the Thriving Communities program as a capacity builder or how you can receive support from the program.
To celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, we explored three innovative and interesting parks-based projects and collaborations in Main Street communities.
Waterloo, Iowa, shares advice and lessons learned from their e-scooter program.
Learn how you can harness design principles and strategies to create a cooler, more welcoming downtown.
Main Street America was awarded $5.9 million to support 20 communities in the Main Streets Community of Practice through the Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program over the next two years.
The City of Leeds, AL welcomed a new downtown mural over the holidays that has brought a sense of excitement and anticipation for the continuing efforts to focus on the Leeds downtown district.
Leeds, AL © Jeremy Dove
What is more Iowan than turning grain bins into public art? Learn how Main Street Coon Rapids created these beautiful murals to celebrate their downtown.
Coon Rapids, IA © Main Street Coon Rapids
Pollinator gardens are fantastic ways to increase green space, promote sustainability, and educate your community on the local environment.
Crofton, MD © Kerry Kelly
The AARP Community Challenge program gives out quick-action grants to activate public spaces. Meet some of the Main Streets awarded grants through the program this year.
Learn how these outdoor microspaces can contribute to more vibrancy in our public spaces.
Chairman Emeritus Ed McMahon explores the power of place in creating spaces people love.
Boise, ID © christiannafzger
To support Georgia Main Streets throughout the recovery process and position them for long-term sustainability, Main Street America launched the Georgia Main Street Innovation Grant Program, made possible through generous support from The Williams Family Foundation of Georgia.
Thomasville, GA © Thomasville Main Street
Intentional placemaking has had many unexpected benefits for this Alabama town.
Wetumpka, AL © Jenny Sue Stubbs
We heard from organizations across the nation about the incredible impact their markets have had on community engagement, entrepreneur and small business support, and keeping their district vibrant.
Appealing to mobility-challenged shoppers yields benefits beyond the store.
In contrast, the Main Street Program in Laramie, Wyoming, is thriving, having successfully cultivated millions of dollars to help fill these vacant, blighted spaces with permanent structures.
In this article we’ll explore the process of planning, funding, installing, operating, and enjoying music on your Main Street.
In 2016, the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center partnered with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Interior Architecture (UNCG) to provide design assistance to Main Street communities.
Placemaking is a strategy that Six Corners Association has enthusiastically applied to our community development efforts because of its seamless integration with the Main Street Approach.
In 2015, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) partnered with the University of Wisconsin–Madison to engage Wisconsin Main Street organizations and farmers markets in the Metrics and Indicators for Impact – Farmers Markets (MIFI-FM) toolkit.
The local Main Street organization, Downtown Milford Inc., is trying to address these shifting demographics by creating a more inclusive sense of community.
This is the story of how a National Endowment for the Arts gathering in DC inspired the leaders of a small town in Appalachia to connect with those in Milwaukee to transform a neglected park.
Main Street communities across the country are no stranger to seeking creative strategies to solve their most nagging issues – vacant buildings, marketing downtown, bolstering retail to name a few.
This article is the second in a series on corridors and the important role they play in Main Street revitalization. The previous article focused on the historic origins of corridors, corridor types, and functions that they serve in our communities.
Façade appearance is a critical aspect of the overall aesthetic appeal and unique character of downtown.
While the Main Street program may not take the lead in corridor enhancements, it can be a vital partner and advocate for improvements in overall community appearance.
Street pole banners preserve the historic character of main streets while fostering community awareness and engagement.
With strong community support, the Library Foundation was able to raise over $1.2 million dollars in private donations.
A lot of signs are necessary to make a downtown work well, but not every community knows what a good sign system looks like, or how instrumental it can be to the creation of a successful downtown.
A key goal of the Atlanta Streetcar is to attract investment to and revitalize the neighborhoods along the streetcar alignment.
