The new program is the result of a two-year effort by the City, its transportation advisory commission, Hotel Trio, Best Western Dry Creek Inn, and community residents to help reduce personal vehicle usage, free up parking spaces in the downtown area, and provide a healthy alternative to get from Point A to Point B.
“We are excited to get our bike-share program up and running,” said Healdsburg Mayor Brigette Mansell. “Instead of getting into our cars, local residents and workers can hop on a bike to do errands, explore other areas of town, or just go for an invigorating ride in the fresh air.”
The City has partnered with Cambridge, Mass.-based Zagster, the country’s largest bike-share provider, to implement the program. About 25 hybrid-style Zagster 8 bikes – complete with basket, automatic lights, reflectors and a bell --- will be available at seven newly installed bike stations around the city. To use the bikes, riders must first download the Zagster mobile app (iOS and Android) and sign up for an annual membership or for hourly uses.
There is a one-time membership fee of $5 to take part in the bikeshare program. The City is offering $2 off this fee with the code HBGLOCAL. Once riders have signed up, it’s free to use the bikes for the first hour, then it will cost $8 per half-hour after that, up to $64. There is a $30 overtime fee for trips lasting more than 24 hours. Riders can return their bikes to any bikeshare station in town. For more information about the Healdsburg bike-share program, go to: http://bike.zagster.com/healdsburg/.
"Zagster pioneered the smart bike model that has powered bike sharing's meteoric rise and enabled bike sharing to thrive outside of the nation's biggest cities, in places just like Healdsburg" said Zagster CEO Tim Ericson. "We're proud to partner with Healdsburg to help further the city's goals of implementing the reduction of car traffic through sustainable, accessible and healthy transportation."
Opening Ceremony: On Saturday, February 3 at 10 a.m., join Mayor Brigette Mansell and members of the Healdsburg City Council, City Staff, and the transportation advisory commission for the launch of the program. The ceremony will be held at the bike-share station adjacent to City Hall, 401 Grove Street. We’ll have a limited number of goody bags members of the public to give away.
Bike Stations:
City Hall/Foss Creek (across from 401 Grove Street)
Train Depot (320 Hudson St.)
Police Station (238 Center Street)
434 Healdsburg Ave. (downtown)
230 Healdsburg Ave. (downtown)
West Plaza (downtown)
Dry Creek Inn Station (Best Western, 198 Dry Creek Road)
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