COLORADO SPRINGS — "It definitely not a moped." Jolie NeSmith, Executive Director of PikeRide explains the technique of riding one of the e-bikes in the bike share system’s new fleet. You have to pedal and the electric assist “meets your own input.” All the previous purple pedal power bikes have been replaced by orange and white electric assist bikes.
The transition to e-bikes comes just one year after launching PikeRide in Colorado Springs. "In our first six months of operations we were able to pull the data to show that 50% of our ridership was tourist based," said Nesmith. More visitors come from lower altitudes with few hills. Input also showed appeal to a broader base of riders with e-bikes. "Because they don't have the endurance or the stamina or the physical capabilities, this reduces a lot of those barriers." The electric assist also appeals to business types who want to get across town, but don’t want to work up a sweat in their business attire.
Like the previous bikes, all you need is an app to check-out a bike. The options for bike locations will be expanding beyond downtown Colorado Springs to Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs either late fall or early spring.
