by
Elliott McFadden | Feb 14, 2018
Partnership with University of Texas to pilot no-cost student memberships and campus area locations
AUSTIN- Austin B-cycle and the University of Texas at Austin launched an 18-month pilot test of bike share services on campus and in the West Campus neighborhood on Wednesday, February 14. This service expansion includes nine new Austin B-cycle station locations and a new no-cost membership for UT students.
“We are excited to partner with the University of Texas to provide students with an
affordable, easy way to get across campus as well as off-campus housing and downtown,” said Elliott McFadden, Executive Director of Austin B-cycle. “We have received a lot of interest from UT students and staff in more B-cycle locations to serve the campus area, and we are happy to meet that demand.”
UT students will be able to enroll online at UTbikeshare.com or through the B-Cycle app for a no-charge annual membership with Austin B-cycle. UT faculty and staff are eligible for a half-off the Local365 annual membership. Anyone with a B-Cycle membership is eligible for unlimited trips of up to an hour between stations as well as the B-connected program that recognizes memberships in other partner B-cycle systems including San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth.
“We are pleased to work with Austin B-cycle to test bike share on campus through August 2019 to see how this service will impact campus mobility,” said Bobby Stone, Director of UT Parking and Transportation Department.
The City of Austin, owner of the Austin B-Cycle system, will evaluate the pilot program to determine how it can serve as a model for increasing access to bike share for other colleges and universities elsewhere in the City.
“Improving access to cycling is an important part of the Austin Bicycle Plan, and Austin Bcycle is a critical tool in lowering barriers to riding a bike,” said Laura Dierenfield, the Active Transportation Manager at the City of Austin. “We see this B-cycle expansion as a key strategy in offering an affordable transportation option for students to get to work, school and career building opportunities.”
ABOUT AUSTIN B-CYCLE
Austin B-cycle is the bike share system for the City of Austin. It is a partnership between the City of Austin, the system owner, and Bike Share of Austin, the non-profit operator. Since its launch in 2013, Austin B-cycle has recorded 730,000 rider trips covering 2.1 million miles helping Austinites and visitors burn 87 million calories, offset 2 million pounds of carbon, and avoid over 165,000 car trips. With this expansion, the system grows from 54 stations and 435 bikes to 63 stations and 520 bikes. More info about the program at AustinBcycle.com.
