Omaha B-Cycle (Bike Share Program)

[ita]

https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-hear ... s/43661342

Jessica Perez
Omaha's Heartland Bike Share program switched to all-electric bikes Thursday.

The Executive Director of Roam Share Benny Foltz said the change will make transportation more accessible and equitable.

When the bike share program first started, it was meant for fun and exercise using classic bikes. Foltz said that changed when the first e-bikes were introduced into the fleet in 2019.

"We have definitely shifted into the public transportation sector," he said.

The program's fleet was half converted to e-bikes a few years ago. Foltz said when that happened, the classic bikes almost completely stopped being used. He said 95% of rides from his services were on e-bikes in 2022.

[Garrett]

Makes sense. Most bikeshare bikes I've encountered are just so heavy and not the most pleasant rides. E-bikes are just way better

[ita]

Makes sense. Most bikeshare bikes I've encountered are just so heavy and not the most pleasant rides. E-bikes are just way better

This was the case with Heartland's fleet. It's a good transition for the bikeshare system in Omaha and hopefully will boost ridership.

[Renovator2559]

I called the main number for B-Cycle, since the dock did not detect my bike return.

I asked the attendent if theft is a problem with bike share bikes. She said it's a big problem with many cities and that they have to submit reports to the local B-Cycle bike subsidary. She also said that bike theft is not a problem in Omaha.

This call center deals with B-Cycles across different cities as they are the same bikes but with local branding.

I leave my bike unsecured many times when I need to step away inside a store etc and no one takes my bike.

If locals keep it up in respecting common goods like $2500 bikes, then we'll see more trust and better investment in bike infrastructure, keep it up Omaha!

[skinzfan23]

They posted online that they are replacing the system by the pedestrian bridge (their busiest) looks like it will have 15 bikes there for just that one station.

[Renovator2559]

I have to say the Heartland B-Cycle share program has been a success, this Saturday both the bike stations in front of the Luminarium (15 bike slots) and the one by the Bob Kerry Bridge (20 bike slots) were empty, as casual riders were actively using them. Its common to see ebike posses of 6 people in a row and overall I think Omaha did a great job by going with B-Cycle as the provider. I am sure other cities with B-Cycle are also having success.

I have noticed that the Tulsa bikeshare is hardly used because their ebikes are confusing to unlock, due to the archaic (analog) locking design and I don't see people biking in Tulsa downtown (no ebike stations seen), except in the Tulsa Riverfront park that's 15 blocks away from downtown, even then its mainly sports bikers in lycra. Oklahoma city does not appear to have a bike share program, except for the Lime scooters and I didn't see bikes.

In the Omaha downtown, the Heartland B-Cycle is more popular than Lime scooters these days and it appears that the B-Cycles are leading the charge in increasing interest in biking and pushing for making the urban core more bike friendly. I sure love my annual subscription and the convenience of the Heartland B-Cycle as another method to get around the core; that continues to expand and connect!

[F0R_L1F3]

It would be dope if as the program kept expanding, it just would get to the suburbs some point. It'd be great if it got onto some trails and allowed for a stronger network to be built.

[lpgforms]

Big announcement - unlimited fee 60 minute rides for one year for all Omaha area residents - Sign up here:

https://heartlandbikeshare.org/free-rides