Bikeshare program launched in Fort Smith

FORT SMITH — Residents and visitors now have a new way of getting around downtown thanks to a public-private partnership.

City officials, members of the private sector and others gathered at the Riverfront Park Events Building on Thursday to promote the “GO FS” Bikeshare Program. A ceremony held for the bikeshare station featured 10 bicycles with baskets adorned with logos of either the Coca-Cola Company or First National Bank of Fort Smith.

A sign at the bikeshare station said riders 18 or older can download the mobile app Zagster and join the program from there. They can then unlock one of the bikes at the station using their phone, go for a ride and lock their bike back up at the station and end their ride in the app when they are finished.

City Administrator Carl Geffken said people can either pay $2 per half hour to use the bikes, or $10 for a monthly membership. He estimated the bicycles had been accessible for about a month or month-and-a-half.

Other cities in Arkansas have been operating or exploring bike-sharing programs.

In 2017, Conway became the first large Arkansas city with a bike-sharing program, working with the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College and Central Baptist College. They use Zagster as well.

The University of Arkansas began a campus bike-sharing program in 2008. Ten years later, Fayetteville and UA became partners on an expanded bike-sharing program with Veo-Ride, a West Lafayette, Ind.-based company.

Little Rock and North Little Rock have explored bike-sharing programs. At one time, the twin cities — separated by the Arkansas River — considered a joint bike-sharing program. Later, officials decided to look into operating their own bike-sharing programs independent of each other.

New York and Chicago have had bike-sharing programs since 2013.

Fort Smith’s Board of Directors on June 18 authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with Zagster for the operation of the bikeshare program.

In a June 12 memo to Geffken, Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman said the proposed agreement was for three years and cost $18,000 per year, with Zagster providing and maintaining ownership of all bicycles and equipment for the bikeshare program.

Fort Smith sought to offer such a program in the city while working with the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District and the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization.

“The Frontier MPO has worked with community sponsors First National Bank of Fort Smith and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Fort Smith to secure funding and grants for the first year of the contract and is working on securing similar funding for the remaining two years of the agreement,” Dingman wrote.

“Although sponsorship or grants for the remaining two years is expected, at this time the city would be obligated for the remaining two years from parks department operating funds if additional grant funding is not secured.”

Reese Brewer, director of the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization, said she put together the business proposal for the program. Coca-Cola and First National Bank each donated $10,000.

Larry Meador of Coca-Cola of Fort Smith said the company believes the bikes in the program can better connect the community by providing different modes of transportation.

“By hopping on a bike, it is our vision that residents and visitors can enjoy exploring our great downtown and take a leisurely ride along the Arkansas River,” Meador said.

Meador said hopefully, as the bikeshare program gains traction, it will expand through Fort Smith.

Sam Sicard, president and chief executive officer of First National Bank in Fort Smith, said the program is a way to activate Fort Smith’s riverfront, as well as get families outdoors and active.