Bike Sharing in Fort Collins will be easier than ever before thanks to Pace, the nationwide dockless bike sharing service for smart cities and colleges.
Originally launched in 2016 as an evolution of the Fort Collins Bike Library, the Fort Collins Bike Share has expanded and improved to become Pace Fort Collins – a modern, dockless bike sharing platform.
Pace, a product of Zagster, is now live in eight markets across the U.S. and offers more than three million residents, students and visitors the ability to explore their cities and towns by bike for just $1 per trip.
So, what’s new? The new Pace Fort Collins bike share program gives riders 250 bikes to choose from, more than doubling the fleet size as compared with the previous program. The new system also allows riders to park their bike at any public bike rack in the city, not just at designated stations, allowing for a more convenient, easy and worry-free riding experience. There are also more than 20 new stations, giving riders even more opportunities to use bike share for both transit and recreation.
New stations, including a station at the Hickory neighborhood in north Fort Collins, were made possible thanks to generous local organizations who look at the bike share program as a valuable way to get around. Sponsors of these new stations include Colorado State University, Kaiser Permanente, UCHealth, Elevations Credit Union, Odell Brewing, New Belgium Brewing, Dellenbach Motors, and Housing Catalyst.
So, how do you start riding? It’s as easy as downloading an app to your smartphone!
To start, find the free Pace bike share app in the App Store or Google Play. Once the app is downloaded, and a rider profile (name and email) is created, riders will then be prompted to enter their credit card information, any promo codes, EBT card membership info or sign up for the cash payment option. (More info on all of these options can be found at ridepace.com/pledge.)
Wait, let’s back up. Did we just say cash? You bet!
A new, exciting development in the Pace Fort Collins is the ability for riders to use cash to pay for rides. To use the cash option, you will first need to call or email Pace support (ridepace.com or 833-321-PACE) to gain approval to enroll. Once access is confirmed, login to your Pace app to see a barcode linked to your account. Take this barcode to any 7-11, Family Dollar, or CVS to purchase ride credits with cash.
And then hop on a Pace bike and start exploring!
The fun doesn’t stop there though. The new Pace bikes also allow for holding rides using the integrated cable and wheel lock ring. Need to stop for a bite or coffee? No problem, simply “hold” your ride in the app, lock up and then resume riding to your final destination (which doesn’t have to be a designated station)!
Costs of riding is also affordable. All rides cost $1 per half hour (the first 30-minute ride for every new user is free) while a yearly membership is only $29 per month. Additionally, promo codes and free ride time is available throughout the year, look for these codes and opportunities on our Facebook, Instagram and through volunteer newsletters.
Side note for safety: don’t forget your helmet! While Pace Fort Collins does not come with helmets, helmets can be purchased easily by visiting the Visit Fort Collins office in Old Town or Maxline Brewing located off of the Mason Trail.
Fort Collins is a great place to explore by bike, and while the new Pace Fort Collins has helped expand the availability of bikes over the city, there are still places that would benefit from having stations just a hop, skip and a jump away. If your organization is passionate about sponsoring a Bike Share station, please email us at info@bikefortcollins.org.
Not interested in sponsoring but want to get more involved? No problem! Consider purchasing ride time for your employees, participating in digital campaigns, attending local Pace Fort Collins events, holding a Bike Share 101 demo at your office, hosting a group ride or initiating a Bike Share wellness incentive program. Have other ideas? Feel free to email us at info@bikefortcollins.org. We love and appreciate all bike questions!
So, what’s next? In the coming weeks we have several local events to increase excitement and ridership of the new Pace Fort Collins. We hope to see you at one of the events listed below, or would love to have you volunteer with us to help spread the word (and get some free ride time so you can have your own fun in the sun on two-wheels)!
Events happening soon include…
Fiesta de Movimiento Comunitario de Hickory Street
When: June 16
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Soft Gold Park, 520 Hickory Street
Why: Celebrating the new Hickory Pace Fort Collins station sponsored by Kaiser Permanente
When: June 27
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Stations will be all over Fort Collins and Bike Fort Collins will be partnering with Create Places at the Lyric Cinema, at 1209 N. College Ave., to serve tamales to hungry cyclists!
Why: Celebrating biking to work and the option to use Pace Fort Collins to get there!
Bike from Work Bash
When: June 27
Time: 4-7pm
Where: Odell Brewing, 800 E Lincoln Ave.
Why: Enter to win a free bike and other prizes. All proceeds from the drawing support the many programs of Bike Fort Collins! Enjoy the music and beer.
How to enter? Tickets to enter will be available at the door.