Santa Monica Becomes First SoCal City With Bike Sharing Services
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Santa Monica will become the first Southern California city to provide a citywide bike sharing service for its citizens.
The new environmental initiative will be called the "Breeze Bike Share System".
The new bike sharing system will allow users to reserve their bike online or on their phone, and find a spot to pick one up.
Renting the bikes will cost six dollars an hour, or much less with a monthly subscription.
The city hopes people will use them to explore the city and to use them as an occasional substitute for cars for transportation between neighborhoods.
"The Breeze Bike Share system, 500 bikes and 75 hubs strong, will provide the Santa Monica community with an active, affordable, and sustainable way to get around town," said Rick Cole, City Manager for the City of Santa Monica. "Incorporating Breeze into your commute is one of the easiest ways to lower your overall carbon footprint."
Finding one of these bikes isn't hard, and once you pick it up it's a very simple process.
Locals are already excited about the new initiative.
"I definitely think the bikes are innovative and great for avoiding parking," Emilie Bers said.
Long Beach, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood all have plans to use the same bikes as they roll out their systems in the coming year.
The public is invited to help celebrate Santa Monica's newest environmental initiative this Thursday, November 12th, at 8:15 a.m. in front of City Hall, 1685 Main Street.
The community is invited to take part in this landmark event honoring the City's commitment to sustainability.
The event kicks off with music and refreshments, followed by a press conference at 9 a.m. and then the official Breeze Bike Share roll out.
Hundreds of community members will take part as the ribbon is cut and the green bikes roll down Main Street and out into the city.
Register at www.breezebikeshare.com or through the Social Bicycles app for IOS and android.
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