With Louisville’s bike share system launching in less than five days, crews have been hard at work distributing stations across the city. And the photos are starting to make their way out!
Bike share is a system of rentable bikes considered part of a city’s overall transportation network. It helps bridge gaps that are unwalkable but too short to drive. Or it helps locals and tourists see the city in new ways. It helps students make it from UofL to Central Park for a study break, and a West Main worker make it to lunch in Nulu. And it’s just a lot of fun.
The first station to be installed is at Spalding. (Courtesy Rolf Eisinger)
Louisville’s system is called LouVelo. When it opens on May 15, it will contain 305 bikes distributed over 28 stations in its first phase. Stations are located on a major north-south axis extending from Downtown, SoBro, and Old Louisville. (This fall, 15 more stations are planned at the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus.) More stations are located in Nulu and Butchertown, and at the Waterfront.
A bike share station on Garvin Place in Old Louisville. (Erin O’Neil)
Future phases call for extending LouVelo’s footprint west into Portland and Russell and east into the Highlands. Mayor Greg Fischer was excited about the growth possibilities of bike share here at a late-April launch announcement. “We’re off to a good start with 300 [bikes],” he said. “There’s no reason why it can’t be 500 or a thousand, and then two thousand.”
First announced in 2014 and delayed multiple times, it’s exciting to see LouVelo hit the streets. And the colorful logo and color scheme lend the system a friendly and inviting tone. We couldn’t be more thrilled.
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A bike share station on Fourth Street. (Rolf Eisinger)
Adding a bike share station at the Belvedere entrance. (Rolf Eisinger)
Adding a station at Metro Hall on Jefferson Street. (Rolf Eisinger)
Installing a bike share station at Spalding. (Rolf Eisinger)
Assembling the stations. (Courtesy Bike Louisville)
Detail of the unassembled docking station. (Courtesy Bike Louisville)
LouVelo bikes arrived in boxes. (Courtesy Bike Louisville)
Bike Louisville’s Rolf Eisinger, in yellow, peers inside a giant box of bikes. (Courtesy Bike Louisville)
The first station was installed Monday at Spalding University’s Mother Catherine Spalding Square on Breckinridge Street. Now they’ve popped up all around town. Each station is a solar-powered standalone unit, simplifying the installation process. Once they’re assembled and loaded onto a truck, crews simply set them into place on the sidewalk or street.
Want to be among the first to ride LouVelo? There’s still time to become a founding member before Monday at a special annual rate of $99. Daily, monthly, and regular annual passes will also be available beginning at $3.50.
Want to know more about LouVelo? Check out our coverage of the launch announcement. Has a bike station been installed near your home or office? Share a photo with us at [email protected]!
LouVelo bike share stations popping up all around town With Louisville's bike share system launching in less than five days, crews have been hard at work distributing stations across the city.
