Happy Birthday, Red Bike. You’ve exceeded expectations

Cincinnati Red Bike turns 1 on Tuesday, and the bike share program has a lot to celebrate.

In its first 12 months, Red Bike hasn’t lost a single bike. It has logged 87,835 rides, 69 percent more than an early 52,000-ride projection. Annual memberships stand at 1,330, 42 percent higher than what had been predicted for its inaugural year.

It started with stations in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and around University of Cincinnati’s Uptown neighborhoods.

And its popularity has resulted in early expansion into Northside and the Northern Kentucky communities of Newport, Bellevue and Covington. In fact, Covington found the idea so desirable that it was a bit of a challenge to put together because “everyone wanted to get involved,” according to Mayor Sherry Carran.

Individuals and businesses have embraced it, too, like Newport businessman Peter Newberry, owner of Newberry Bros. Coffee and Prohibition Bourbon Bar, who made a $1,000 donation toward the system’s expansion into his community.

Newberry calls a Red Bike station a perpetual “welcome mat” for his and neighboring businesses.

“To blow through those original projections, as we have, we are a city that was so ripe for this,” said Leslie Maloney, chair of the Red Bike Board of Directors.

But the first year also taught the nonprofit a few lessons and prompted some early tinkering, said Executive Director Jason Barron, who added he’s thrilled that Red Bike has been so quickly accepted into the fabric of the city.

With a new user survey out, Red Bike hopes to focus its second year on delivering the most convenient and dependable system possible, while listening to user complaints and suggestions.

The long-term challenge: Sustainable support.

“Most of these bike share programs do not make enough revenue from fees to cover operational costs,” Maloney said. “Every bike share system will tell you that’s what keeps them up at night.”

Year one: Good news and careful tweaks

Red Bike now has 50 stations, up from 30 when it launched last September. It has increased its fleet of bikes from 263 to 385, each of which is serviced at least once every two weeks.

Downtown Cincinnati isn’t that big, but a walk across it to a restaurant or meeting can take awhile.

“We got so many early testimonials,” said Maloney, who together with co-chair Nancy Strassel, created the initial grassroots effort to bring bike share to Cincinnati.

Some of the feedback?

“ ‘I was able to run my errands without getting in my car,’ ” Maloney recalled, “Or, ‘It took a quarter the time had I walked.’ ”

The bikes, tracking equipment, stations and software to run the system are supplied by BCycle, one of a handful of companies now selling bike share systems to cities around the United States.

Newport resident Brian Hone got an annual pass when Red Bike expanded into Northern Kentucky and has racked up about 300 miles taking the bike to work, the Covington farmers market, Findlay Market or out to meet friends in the evenings.

Hone likes that he has his own online Red Bike profile that keeps track of the money he’s saved, calories he’s burned and miles he’s pedaled.

“I have my own bike, but I generally take a Red Bike,” Hone said. “It’s convenient and I don’t have to worry about people stealing my bike.”

He’s looking forward to using his pass in Indianapolis, Dayton and the 18 other BCycle cities (and growing), like Denver, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, which have entered into agreements to allow members in other cities to use their systems.

Here's a map of those cities. Note: Systems in McAllen, Texas and El Paso​ are coming soon. On mobile? Tap here to view the map.

One challenge, Barron said, has been getting people to understand that when they take out a bike from the station for $8 for the day, it must still be checked into a docking station once an hour – think of it as unlimited 60 minutes rides for the day – to avoid charges, Barron said.

There were enough calls from people complaining early on that Red Bike changed the signage at the stations and lowered the cost from $50 to $28 when someone purposefully or accidentally takes the bike out all day without docking it.

He also likes to put out the warning that most of the other BCycle systems require that bikes be docked every 30 minutes.

Year two: Dependability and convenience

Red Bike expanded quickly in its first year, but leaders at the nonprofit say that sort of growth shouldn’t be expected in year two.

“It’s time to stop and take a breath and see where we go now,” Maloney said.

Some stations aren’t being used as much as Red Bike would like, including the stations in Uptown and the single station in Northside.

Red Bike is committed to promoting those stations – it just began offering a $30 semester pass for college students – but will consider moving a station that does not catch on, Red Bike officials said.

Population density is key for a bike share program to work, Barron said, and therefore the system was never envisioned to cover the whole city.

The results of an online survey should help Red Bike figure out next steps to make the system as dependable and convenient as possible, Barron said.

Newberry said he would love the option of grabbing a bike with a lower gear for hills, a complaint that pops up in online reviews, too.

The bike share program, which has an annual operational cost of about $500,000, will always be actively seeking financial sponsors, Maloney said.

Several corporate sponsors, foundations and $1.1 million from the city of Cincinnati got the program rolling. UC Health has committed to be lead sponsor for three years, Maloney said. But fundraising must be ongoing.

She’s thrilled that governments and many businesses and individuals like Newberry have stepped up.

Newberry says he’s happy to do it, adding that it improves his quality of life and connects his community.

“We tell people we’re living Downtown and they say, ‘No you’re living in Newport,’ ” Newberry said. “But honestly because of Red Bike, my wife and I have explored coffee shops, different restaurants in Over-the-Rhine – everywhere there is a Red Bike station. Plus it’s healthier, eases traffic congestion and pollutants.”

Tips for using Red Bike

1. Annual passes ($80), semester passes ($30) and day passes ($8) can be purchased online at www.cincyredbike.org. You can only purchase day passes at the stations.

2. Watch out for streetcar rails in the street. There are new stickers on the front of the bikes that remind riders how to properly cross them.

3. Even with an annual or day pass you must dock the bike every 60 minutes.

4. If you have trouble, just call Red Bike, 513-621-2453. They answer the phone from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

5. Do not ride on the sidewalk, it violates city bans.

6. You don’t have to wear a helmet while riding a Red Bike and one is not provided, but Red Bike urges riders to bring their own.

Celebrate with Red Bike

On Tuesday, Red Bikes cost $1 all day for its birthday. Promo code: 91515. It’s also throwing a bash for itself at Taft’s Ale House, 1429 Race St., at 6 p.m., where a special beer will be tapped.