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Re-energize your routine and make the most of spring by checking out the City Cycle bike-share program. The rental bikes will be back on the racks on March 1st, providing an affordable way to explore the city and enjoy the fresh air.

City Cycle arrived in Peoria last May thanks to nine local sponsors, and its inaugural year was a huge success. “We were blown away by the community support,” says Kaci Osborne-Geier of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It was really embraced as a form of recreation and more importantly, transportation.”

From May to November of 2017, 803 riders made 1,255 cycling trips around the region, resulting in 3,725 hours of outdoor recreation and environmentally-friendly transportation. Zagster, Inc., the Massachusetts-based company behind the program, estimates that usage offset 37,258 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and burned a collective 2.4 million calories—undeniably positive impacts for community health.

City Cycle stations can be found at six locations throughout the metro area, including Peoria City Hall, the RiverPlex, upper Bradley Park, Junction City, Heritage Square in Peoria Heights, and the Levee District in East Peoria. Thirty five-speed bikes are available for rent, and they can be returned to any location. Participants can simply download the free Zagster app to their smartphones to unlock their rides. Annual memberships are available for frequent riders, and the new pay-as-you-go rate of $1 per 30 minutes is intended to encourage short-term use as well as leisurely rides.

“We found that the average ride taken was 105 minutes,” Osborne-Geier notes. “This year, we really want our riders to consider City Cycle an affordable means of transportation, so instead of driving a mile to a meeting, they’ll take a City Cycle bike… Instead of getting their car out of the parking garage for lunch, hop on a bike!”

The program hopes to add two more stations and engage more college students in regular transit. As the region continues to expand its bike-friendly efforts with new trails and bike lanes, City Cycle is a healthy, fun way for even the most casual of cyclists to get back into action or reboot their commute. iBi

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