You'll probably notice an abnormal amount of bright green bikes around the city of South Bend this week, all thanks to LimeBike.
LimeBike is a dockless bike sharing system with GPS tracking devices that give users the flexibility to use and leave the bikes wherever they would like.
South Bend is just the third U.S. city to roll out the system and was chosen because of its dedication to innovation. LimeBike's vice president of strategic development, Andrew Savage said, "We look for cities that really want to embrace change, and we felt like South Bend was the perfect city for us."
A 30 minute ride only costs you $1, but now through Sunday, LimeBike is offering free rides to the South Bend market. And since South Bend currently holds the largest fleet of dockless bicycles, they are pretty easy to come by!
We recently took a couple of bikes for a spin. Here's a quick overview of how to use the LimeBike service.
First, you'll need to download the free (iOS or Andriod)app in order use a bike. The app will also help you locate a bike, if needed. We spotted a couple of bikes across the street and didn't end up needing to use the locator.
Set up your account and simply hit the UNLOCK button to open the QR Code scanner within the app. Scan the code on the back of the bike and it will unlock itself. It even has a nice little jingle to let you know it's unlocking.
You're ready to cruise the streets of South Bend! The bike is well designed, easy to control and fun to ride. The seats are adjustable and the bike has a carrying basket for your belongings, it even has a spot to hold a water bottle. It also has a bell and a light.
When you're finished, simply find a safe spot (meaning don't obstruct traffic or pedestrian walkways) to park your bike and lock it up. Again, you'll hear a cute jingle alerting you that the bike is locking itself.
We rode back to our office and parked right outside. We must've found a good place to park because as we were pulling away, one of our bikes was already being picked up by another rider!
After your ride is complete, lock the bike back up and you'll receive a summary of your ride within the app which includes your ride time, total distance and total cost.
Costing the city nothing to operate, this program is a great opportunity for both the city and residents of South Bend. So if you haven't yet, get out there and give a LimeBike a spin!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tina O'Connor is the Creative Director for Alpha Dog Agency. Born & raised in South Bend, Tina has a love for Notre Dame and the Chicago Cubs. When she's not working, you'll probably find her hanging out with her miniature pinscher, Deuce. Follow along on Instagram where you can experience life through her lens.