By TB Reporter

Initially, the program will cover downtown and close-in neighborhoods.

ST. PETERSBURG — The City Council has approved spending $1.5-million, including $250,000 in BP settlement funds, to start a bike share program. The city will soon enter into a contract with CycleHop, which operates Tampa’s Coast Bike Share program, to operate St. Petersburg’s program. Three hundred rental bikes will be spread among 30 stations and initial routes will cover downtown, parts of Deuces Live, Grand Central and other neighborhoods. The bike share program is expected to be up and running by fall. For a look at CycleHop, visit http://cyclehop.com .

“Tampa has been an amazing success,” says Eric Trull of Coast Bike Share.”We’re expecting to do even better in St. Pete. We’ve got a great grid system over there, fantastic trail, and we expect big things in St. Pete.”

Bikes will be available 24 hours a day. Riders may pay $8 per hour, buy monthly memberships for $20 to $30, or buy annual memberships for $70 to $100. Bikes can be picked up and dropped off at any of the 450 bike racks in and around downtown.

“I think bike sharing is something strongly supported by the community,”says Council Member Darden Rice. “This is a way to help get people to jobs, to get people to buses. This is a transportation choice that people want.”

St. Petersburg | Transportation | Bicycles | Bike Share | TB Reporter

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