Denver B-cycle Will Stay Open All Year

Denver B-cycle today announced that it will keep stations running and stocked with bicycles through the winter.

“We have grown to the point where riders depend on the bikes as part of their daily transportation needs,” said interim executive director Nick Bohnenkamp. “Whether you need a B-cycle for regular recreation, commuting or the occasional trip or errand, the B-cycle option needs to remain available. Our users are loyal and the growing membership base demonstrates enthusiasm for the system. Every Coloradoan knows that winter can bring stretches of balmy weather and there’s no reason to limit choices for our members any month of the year. Thousands in Denver ride their bicycles all year long and Denver B-cycle needs to remain as a dependable, reliable part of the transportation landscape.”

During the first three seasons, the shared bikes were removed from the stations from mid-December to mid-March.

This year, Denver B-cycle opened 29 new stations, bringing the network to 82 stations. The network provides shared bicycles from the Highlands to Baker, from Five Points to Congress Park. There are over 700 bikes in the system.

Users buy memberships on a daily, monthly or annual basis. The first 30 minutes of any ride is free but usage fees apply for rides longer than 30 minutes, no matter the membership level. Bohnenkamp said the membership rates would not change, even with the additional three months of available service.

The stations are currently available from 5 a.m. to midnight. Beginning on December 2nd

the system will run on a slightly shorter winter schedule, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Regular operating hours will return in mid-March.

“The B-cycle system has been embraced by the city and we can feel the support growing every day,” said Bohnenkamp. “We deeply appreciate the ongoing support of our partners, sponsors and members. This increase in service is a natural evolution in our growth as a dependable, reliable option for getting around town. We believe that shared bikes make for a more livable and environmentally friendly city and we think that’s true whether the calendar says it’s winter, spring, summer or fall.”

About Denver Bike Sharing

Denver B-cycle is presented by Founding Funder Kaiser Permanente in association with a variety of community sponsors. Denver B-cycle is owned and operated by Denver Bike Sharing, a charitable, non-profit organization.

Denver Bike Sharing serves as a catalyst for a fundamental transformation in thinking and behavior by operating a bike sharing system in Denver to enhance mobility while promoting all aspects of sustainability: quality of life, equity, the environment, economic development, and public health.

To learn more about Denver Bike Sharing, the owner and operator of Denver B-cycle, visit denver.bcycle.com or call 303-825-3325.

About Kaiser Permanente Colorado Kaiser Permanente Colorado is the state’s largest nonprofit health plan, proudly working to improve the lives and health of Colorado residents for more than 40 years. Kaiser Permanente Colorado provides comprehensive health care services to more than 538,000 members through 26 medical offices and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. The health plan was named “Highest in Member Satisfaction” among Commercial Health Plans by J.D. Power and Associates for the sixth straight year. Kaiser Permanente was recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as the top-ranked commercial health plan in Colorado, No. 6 in the nation and the second ranked Medicare plan in the U.S. Kaiser Permanente was also recently recognized as a 2012 Hypertension Champion by Million Hearts™. In 2011, Kaiser Permanente proudly directed more than $90 million to community benefit programs to improve the health of all Coloradans. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit kp.org/newscenter or follow us on twitter @kpcolorado or facebook.com/kpcolorado.