Dayton bike share program tops 5,000 riders in first year

Bike Miami Valley is adding three new stations this year.

Dayton’s bike share program, Link, has brought more traffic to local businesses after launching one year ago.

More than 5,000 people have used the bikes, said Laura Estandia, Executive Director of Bike Miami Valley, which operates the program. A recent study revealed that people who use the system are likely to contribute to stores and restaurants near the bike stations.

“At least 30 percent of them are spending $26-$50 at a time,” Estandia said.

Omega Music Store, which is located in the Oregon District, is across the street from a station. Dylan Finster, sales representative for the store, said it has been good for business.

“The bikes bring more people downtown and gives them more time to look at what we have to offer,” Finster said.

There are 225 bikes and 23 stations throughout the city. The locations were chosen by their proximity to restaurants, stores and entertainment attractions. Five stations are on the University of Dayton’s campus.

Three new stations are being added this year. “One was installed in April at Greater Dayton RTA’s Longworth campus,” Estandia said. “We are also adding a station at the Dayton Job Center and one at Tech Town.”

Jerod Frenzl, who moved to Dayton from Tennessee a year ago, said the bikes are ideal for helping get around town.

“I did not want to live in a city where I needed a car,” Frenzl said. “I work downtown so I really like being able to get back and forth quickly.”

Link’s experience has been very different from a 2011 bike sharing program in the city where all 125 bikes disappeared in the first month.

There have been no issues with theft or serious damages to the bikes and no reports of injuries or fatalities, Estandia said.

Bike Miami Valley partners with Greater Dayton RTA on the program, which oversees the maintenance of the bikes.

The bikes can be rented for 30 minutes at a time through a number of different memberships. Annual memberships cost $65. Four month semester passes are $45. Monthly passes are $30 and daily passes are $5.

An additional charge of $2 is added for rides between 30-60 minutes. Every 30 minutes following that will cost $5. The bikes can be returned to any station in the city.

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