WeHo Pedals, the City of West Hollywood’s bike share program, has finally rolled out a “Bike Share Connect” network that allows members to continue riding past the city limits to different parts of the westside, going as far as the City of Santa Monica. It’s about time.
WeHo Pedals has partnered with bike share systems in Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills Bike Share), UCLA (Bruin Bike Share), and Santa Monica (Breeze Bike Share), to form one seamless bike share network. Collectively known as Bike Share Connect, it is the first integrated regional bike share network in the Los Angeles area. The launch is scheduled for Monday, April 23rd.
WeHo Pedals memberships will automatically expand into the enhanced service network. The new Bike Share Connect system area encompasses 35-square miles with 830 GPS-connected “Smart Bikes” and 135 station locations. The GPS-enabled bikes, powered by Social Bicycles (SoBi) and operated and maintained by CycleHop, LLC, will allow for a seamless integration for all users. All of the bicycles within the Bike Share Connect integrated system feature LED headlights and taillights, eight gears, cargo baskets, and a locking mechanism that can be locked to bike share stations within the service area for free, or to any public bike rack within the service area for a nominal fee of $2.
By bridging gaps and connecting former system areas, the new Bike Share Connect network further expands availability of bike share across the region and provides car-free mobility in a fun, healthy, and environmentally-friendly way. Smart Bikes can be unlocked at one station and returned to any other station in the system area making it easy to commute to work or school, run errands, and beat traffic and parking congestion.
Existing users of WeHo Pedals Bike Share, as well as Breeze Bike Share, Beverly Hills Bike Share, and Bruin Bike Share programs will automatically have access to the entire Bike Share Connect network following launch. New users can join the network by downloading the Social Bicycles mobile app, selecting the Bike Share Connect network, and choosing a payment plan. Bike Share users without a smartphone or internet access can create an account at any time at one of the 16 available self-service kiosks in the network. Upon becoming a member, users simply enter a phone number or 6-digit account number and 4-digit PIN on the keypad located on the back of each bike to unlock. For kiosk location information and membership details, please visit www.wehopedals.com.
To celebrate Bike Month in May 2018, the City of West Hollywood will provide a limited-time WeHo Pedals promotion in May by offering 20-percent off of new Annual Membership signups by using the promo code BIKEMONTH20. Annual memberships provide 90 minutes of ride time every day of the year across the four Bike Share Connect partner systems. Prices are consistent across the four partner programs, and will not increase with the launch of this expanded network.
For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s WeHo Pedals Bike Share Program and Bike Share Connect, visit wehopedals.com or contact Tiffany R. Robinson, Senior Planner, City of West Hollywood, at (323) 848-6868 or at [email protected].
