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A joint initiative between Bike Easy, Blue Bikes, and the City of New Orleans to ensure the benefits of bike share are realized for local and low-income residents.

BLUE BIKES FOR ALL

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Our study in bringing Bike Share to New Orleans

Bike Easy has received a “Better Bike Share Partnership” grant to promote equity and awareness of our New Orleans’ first-ever bike share program. The Better Bike Share Partnership focuses on engaging under served communities through bike share and transportation. Bike Easy is dedicated to advancing equity through transportation (detailed in our Complete Streets for Health Equity Report) and know that Blue Bikes, and their low-income subscription plan, can be a great tool in pursuing that equity.

In partnership with Blue Bikes, we have launched initiatives focused on promoting the benefits of Blue Bikes as an everyday transportation option for local residents. Our programs will focus on: staying safe while biking, how to use Blue bikes, and affordability for low-income residents via a $20 yearly membership.

Community Rides:

Bike Easy and Blue Bikes are partnering with community groups and organizations to offer community rides. These efforts will be focused in areas where transportation options are most needed. Geared towards low or moderate-income residents and underrepresented groups, we will focus on promoting Blue Bikes as a new, affordable, accessible transportation option.

These rides:

  • Provide participants with a free ride with their coworkers, friends, and neighbors
  • Provide participants with a free month long membership to Blue Bikes
  • Provide safety information to all riders
  • Are lead and monitored by Bike Easy / Blue Bikes personnel
  • Highlight transportation usefulness of Blue Bikes
  • Answer all questions from participants

 

Interested in signing up your organization or joining a community ride?
Contact David Meza at: david@bikeeasy.org or 504.861.4022

Blue Bikes to Work:

Beginning in July 2018, Bike Easy will begin conducting workshops focused on promoting bike share as an affordable and accessible transportation option specifically for hospitality (and other low-wage) workers in downtown New Orleans, specifically the Central Business District and French Quarter. Working with local businesses and organizations to host nearby or on-site workshops designed specifically for their workers. Programming will focus on effectively introducing low-wage workers in the hospitality industry to bike share and its benefits while also providing members of the workforce specific Blue Bike how-to’s, safety advice, and reduced fare pass registration opportunities.

Through this initiative we will:

  • Provide detailed information on the Blue Bikes model
  • Provide free monthly passes for participants
  • Explain the low-income pass offered by Blue Bikes
  • Provide safe riding techniques and tips specific to the workplace
  • Detail ways Blue Bikes are a unique and practical transportation option
  • Provide information to avoid “surprise” fees

 

Interested in hosting a workshop or attending an open workshop?
Contact David Meza at: david@bikeeasy.org or call 504.861.4022

While You’re Makin’ Groceries

In order to reach everyone who might benefit from Blue Bikes as an affordable, accessible transportation option we will be promoting the $20 yearly membership for enrollees in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka SNAP and ‘Louisiana Purchase’). One direct way to connect with SNAP enrollees is to at the grocery store and in the check-out line. With our partners at Blue Bikes and Blue Cross/Blue Shield we are reaching out to local and national grocery store chains here in New Orleans to promote to low-income residents of this amazing new, affordable transportation option available to them, for $20 a year.

BETTER BIKE SHARE PARTNERS

Bike Easy is looking for Better Bike Share Partners to promote the use of Blue Bikes! We’re looking for workers in the service or hospitality industry in the Central Business District or French Quarter, individuals who use the reduced fare program, people involved in community groups in the 7th ward and Central city, or people with close ties to those groups. Our program is focused on providing safe and affordable transportation to those target groups. Partners will help us spread the word of Blue Bike’s usefulness while earning cash and ride credits for their efforts. Flexible hours around your schedule!

Partners are:

  • Outgoing individuals.
  • Bike Share enthusiasts.
  • Willing to share their experience with bike share. (on their own social media or through assistance with Bike Easy Staff)
  • Active community members.
  • Passionate about improving transportation needs to under served communities
  • Workers in service or hospitality, community group members in the 7th Ward or Central City, and/or low-income residents.

 

Partners will:

  • Have periodic check-ins and training with Bike Easy and Blue Bike representatives.
  • Provide their own testimony around the usefulness of Bike Share.
  • Work with Bike Easy personnel for a video portrait and photo shoot riding Blue Bikes.
  • Collect testimonies from other Blue Bike users.
  • Promote Bike Share and the reduced fare program through Social Media.
  • Share their unique referral code to new riders.
  • Develop contacts with community groups in the 7th Ward and Central City to participate in group rides.
  • Set up workshops to be given to service and hospitality workers in the CBD and French Quarter.

 

Bike Easy provides:

  • Training and support.
  • Staff to lead workshops and group rides.
  • Blue Bike credits.
  • A unique Blue Bike referral code to earn additional credits.
  • Stipends for workshops, community rides, or testimonials gathered as a result of the Partners efforts.

 

To apply for the position, email david@bikeeasy.org with your connection to the target audiences, your experience with Blue Bikes, how you feel about biking in the city, and anything else you’d like to share relevant to the program. Or fill out a Blue Bikes Testimonial sheet to get the process started!

BRINGING BIKE SHARE TO NEW ORLEANS – OUR HISTORY

Bike Easy worked to ensure the city would adopt a responsible practice in brining Bike Share to New Orleans. We helped facilitate an open bid for potential companies to the city. In addition, we hosted many public meetings and did outreach to local residents and businesses to inform them of incoming hubs. Social Bicycles ultimately won the bid and was awarded an exclusive contract with the City of New Orleans. After receiving sponsorship from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the bike share program has been branded “Blue Bikes”. Bike Easy continues to work with Blue Bikes to help improve bicycling in the city through our outreach, advocacy, and education efforts. One of our primary focuses is to ensure Blue Bikes is an equitable option and proves valuable for residents in need of affordable and reliable transportation.