Rialto Bike Share Program set to launch this month

On March 22, Rialto City Council received a Bike Sharing Plan & Implementation Program update from Alta Planning + Design and Drop Mobility. 

In 2018, the city council selected Alta Planning & Design to launch a bike-share feasibility study that identified where residents would like to see bike-share locations and understand how transportation could be improved.

“The bike-share program that Drop Mobility is bringing to the City of Rialto is a network of shared bicycles for short trips often 15-45 minutes in length. Anyone can check the bikes out for a one-way trip. So, for example, you can take the bus anywhere in the city and get off, do your errands, then ride a bike back,” said Libby Nachman, Alta Planning & Design Planning Associate.

Cities across the country, large and small, have found these types of bike-share programs to play a critical role in helping residents travel and explore their community. 

“The bikes that are coming to Rialto will be electric bikes, e-bikes, which provide an electric-assist…to help those who may not be as physically strong to operate a traditional bike and for those who may be less experienced riding bikes,” continued Nachman.

During the council meeting, Sean Burak, Drop Mobility’s operations manager, stated that the program would be launching by the end of April 2022. 

“We’d like to do some launch promotion in early April and plan the actual launch of bikes at the end of April. We want to take advantage of the forthcoming Spring Extravaganza to engage with the community and introduce them to the bikes,” said Burak. 

Burak also shared that there are currently 13 locations in the first phase that have been approved to adopt the 150 bikes coming to the city, with more locations to be announced very soon. 

Many residents in the city are wondering how they’ll be able to use the e-bikes come April, and during the meeting, it was assured that a resident could be ready to ride after four simple steps. 

“Members in the community will need to sign up for the bike-sharing program in person or on the app; there will also be an option for subsidized memberships for low-income residents. Then, you’ll be able to check out bikes using the app or text messaging; after that, you’re good to ride, and the final step is to lock the bike to a bike rack or a signpost. The great part about this is that these bikes will not lock outside of Rialto due to a virtual geofence,” concluded Nachman. To learn more, visit yourrialto.com.