Ford GoBike adds electric pedal-assist bikes in Bay Area
BAY AREA >> Riding a Ford GoBike up one of the Bay Area’s daunting hills is going to be a lot easier with the the company’s new fleet of electric pedal-assist e-bikes.
More than 500 of the e-bikes — called Ford GoBike Plus — were docked at Ford GoBike docking stations last week in Oakland, Emeryville and Berkeley, with an additional 600 in San Francisco and 200 in San Jose, Ford GoBike spokeswoman Aonya McCruiston said. The e-bikes are distributed among the existing GoBikes, so riders can take their pick of which one they want to use. The GoBike app shows which of the company’s 546 stations are stocked with the e-bikes.
The bikes are equipped with electric motors that give riders a boost as they pedal. The maximum speed is 18 mph.
“E-bikes require less physical exertion, flatten uphill trips and offer a sweat-free ride, making cycling a more attractive option for a wider range of trip rides,” GoBike officials said in a news release. “By making longer trips easier, e-bikes can help shift travel patterns from cars to bikes.”
It costs the same to ride one of the Ford GoBike Plus bikes as it does to ride a nonelectric one. Through the app or through a Clipper card, riders pay $15 a month or $149 a year for a membership or $2 for a single ride, $10 for the entire day.
Ford Gobike also has a program called Bike Share for All that offers a $5 annual membership for people with low incomes.
The program is available to people who qualify for Calfresh, PG&E CARE utility