Salt Lake is full of pedal-loving folk, (more of the retro-styled cruiser/racing options, as opposed to the foldaway, carbon fibre Tour De France models). With so many locals favoring two human-powered wheels over anything motorised or fuel-burning, Salt Lake’s traffic is kept to a minimum, easing congestion, pollution and the dreaded ‘inversion’ over Winter months.
GREENbike is a clever, non-profit bike sharing initiative allowing users to share Downtown’s cache of bikes, located at 20 different stations in 30-minute installments.
The intent behind the scheme is to get you from A to B quicker than walking, and nearly as quick as travelling by gas guzzling car, bus or motorbike, (with the added bonus of saving the environment and strengthening your body). Once you reach your destination, return the bike to its nearest station and you can collect another bike (if you so choose at the same or another station) when you’re ready to move on.
Cash, coin or credit/debit card are all accepted as payment forms for your access card. It’s too easy, fun, healthy and oh so green!
You can borrow a bike for longer than 30 minutes, but you’ll pay for the extra usage in 30-minute increments. Most people only need or use the bike for short bursts before securing it for later (hence the timing). The system removes the hassle of having to lock your bike somewhere, as well as maintain it. You’ll be ‘credited’ with another half-hour’s usage when you return a bike to its nearest station as long as your usage is under 30 minutes.
The fleet assumes pride and precedence outside 20 of Salt Lake’s most frequented Downtown locales including Gateway and City Creek Shopping Centers, Salt Lake Palace, Main Street and Squatters Pub, so you won’t be schlepping all over town in search of a station. A map of all of Downtown’s GREENbike stations is available online and at each station.
Visit GREENbike’s website www.greenbikeslc.org to purchase a membership or buy an Access pass at any of the GREENbike stations. You can even add the free ‘Bcycle Now’ mobile app to check bike availability at each station in real time, so you’re never without pedal power.
