Kansas City B-cycle, formerly BikeShareKC, will officially launch its bike sharing program with a three-mile bike ride over the Missouri River into Downtown on July 3.
Comprised of 90 bicycles and 12 docking stations (B-stations) between River Market and Crown Center, B-cycle offers a public transportation option for short trips around the city. The system is modeled after those in cities like Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis.
Spearheaded by local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy nonprofit BikeWalkKC, B-Cycle’s aim is to provide a faster, cleaner and healthier transportation mode for short trips Downtown. Local pedicab operator Tricycle Transit is partnering with BikeWalkKC for day-to-day operation of B-Cycle. Tricycle Transit will be responsible for “balancing” B-Cycle bicycles so that each kiosk consistently has enough bicycles to rent and enough clear docks to return rented bikes.
On the July 3 opening event, volunteers will ride the bikes from the warehouse where they were assembled across the bike/pedestrian path on the Heart of America Bridge at 11:30 a.m. They will pause for lunch and speeches in Ilus Davis Park (11th and Oak near City Hall) around 12:30 p.m. At 1:15 p.m. they will ride to the 12 B-stations throughout the city to dock the bikes.
To volunteer as a rider on the maiden voyage or find out how to use the B-cycle system, visit kansascity.bcycle.com.