An exciting new program has started in Hailey that will change the way you get around town. 5B BikeShare is a program administered by Mountain Rides Transportation as part of the City of Hailey Climate Challenge EPA Grant. The main goal is to reduce greenhouse gases, promote energy conservation and give people an easy and fun way to get around town.
The 18 white town cruiser bikes available for use in Hailey all have a lock system integrated into each individual bike that is also equipped with a GPS and a cellular connection. The 5B bikes and technology are provided by Social Bicycles. The bikes can be accessed through the Social Bicycles app for iPhone and Droid, or through the Social Bicycles website. A monthly membership is $10, seasonal is $30 and the hourly use rate is $1. When signing up for the program a member receives a membership number and a pin. These numbers are required when locating, reserving, and unlocking a bike.
“Bike Hubs” are stationed in various places around town (bus stops, schools, the Community Campus, Hailey Library, medical clinics, etc.). The BikeShare program prefers the return of bikes at the Bike Hub where it was picked up, providing some consistency as to where you can find bikes, but returning them at any hub will work.
The program was formally launched June 24th and has been successfully running for just about a month now. “We’ve spent the last year working with our vendor, Social Bicycles, on how to use the bikes and where to put them,” said Jason Miller, executive director of Mountain Rides. The company is currently working on more membership options, such as daily or weekly use options for visitors or those who only need a bike for a short period. “The next step for us would be starting a program in Ketchum,” Jason said. “Hailey is just the beginning.”
