Bike Share Is Back In Providence

PROVIDENCE, RI — Bikes are back in Providence. On Monday, Mayor Jorge Elorza officially unveiled 100 new Spin brand bikes, available to rent across the city.

"The return of e-bikes to Providence gives our residents and visitors another safe and sustainable way to get around," Elorza said. "Having the choice of an e-bike or an e-scooter gives riders the opportunity to pick a vehicle that best fits their journey while simultaneously improving transit efficiency in our city. We would like to thank Spin for their partnership in strengthening the Providence community's mobility while also bringing jobs to the area."

Unlike previous bike rentals, Spin bikes are dockless. The city plans to scale up to 400 total bikes by September.

The bikes cost $1 to unlock and an additional 29 cents per mile. The relaunched service is part of Providence's push towards transportation equity, as well as offers an environmentally friendly way to get around. To make the service accessible to everyone, bikes are available to rent without the need for location services, credit cards or a smartphone via "Spin Access," which also offers discounted fares to qualifying individuals.

"We applaud the work that Providence is doing to expand transit offerings while creating a more efficient public transit network," said Ashley Brown, the Senior Government Partnerships Manager of US East. "Spin e-scooters and e-bikes offer options so riders can pick the vehicle that best fits the needs of their journey. We look forward to expanding our e-bike offering to other cities over the course of 2021."

The dockless system was chosen to allow riders to more easily access bikes, without needing to find a designated station. Approximately 40 hubs have been set up across Providence to allow for convenient parking. Riders can also park their bike on any publicly accessible bike rack, street sign, or parking meter, though they are asked not to lock bikes to trees, benches or park signs. More bike dos and don'ts can be found on the city's website.

How to rent a Spin bike

• Download the Spin app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• Use the app to find and unlock a bike or scooter near you.
• Park and re-lock your bike or scooter when you finish your ride.

Learn more about Spin Access by going online, emailing support@spin.pm or calling 1-888-262-5189.