Germantown ready to roll out bike share program Thursday
Bike share rolls into Germantown this week as the city launches a program making rentals available from two locations: the Germantown Athletic Club and Cameron Brown Park.
Ten smart bikes initially will be in use. Residents and visitors to the city can check availability and reserve bikes through the Zagster smartphone app, in the iPhone app store and Google Play app store for Android, then return bikes to either station after use.
Zagster, which operates more than 200 bike share programs in 35 states, will offer rides at $3 per hour, up to $27 maximum, on bikes equipped with GPS for navigation.
Mayor Mike Palazzolo said the bikes also will provide extensive metrics that will allow the city to track program usage.
“The Zagster service will fit in seamlessly with Germantown’s network of greenways and bike lanes for recreational rides,” said Pam Beasley, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Palazzolo agreed, saying the two stations will allow easy access to areas throughout the city.
The Cameron Brown station will take riders to the Germantown Greenway, Palazzolo noted, while the Athletic Center station allows quick access to the nearby Thornwood development and its Greenway connection. He said more stations could be added. “What we found was that we have tremendous park assets, but some are not easily or safely accessible,” Palazzolo said, noting that bikes will make it easier for everyone to get to the city’s parks and trail system.
Bike share programs have gained steam nationwide as cities become more health-conscious and explore new transportation options. In Memphis, the Explore Bike Share program launched this spring with 60 stations housing 600 bikes connecting the city’s urban core.
Zagster caters more to second-tier cities, Palazzolo said, outside the ring of major urban areas.
Palazzolo said Germantown’s program grew out of a 2016 trip by city officials to Carmel, Ind., to study that city’s plan for growth. Carmel has a bike share program, also operated by Zagster, that impressed Germantown leaders enough to bring the idea back for consideration.
The city formed a partnership with Campbell Clinic, the Germantown Athletic Club, and Healthier Germantown to make the program a reality.
Palazzolo characterized the program as a pilot that allows users to “test drive” biking before investing in a bike of their own.
“To use my own story, I’m fiscally conservative,” Palazzolo said. “I’m not going to spend $500 or $1,000 on a bike until I try bike share first.”
He may get his chance at Thursday’s program launch. That’s when elected officials will join Campbell Clinic staff and various other community members for an initial ride from the Athletic Club station at 9 a.m.
Bikes will become available to the public for rental beginning Thursday afternoon.
For more information, go to bike.zagster.com/germantowntn.