Saint Petersburg recently introduced a new bike share system in partnership with Coast Bike Share program. During November, the city set up a “soft launch” which introduced the community to 100 bikes located across 10 different bike hubs, mainly located on Central Avenue and Saint Petersburg’s waterfront. USFSP students even have the benefit of having a hub located right across from the Student Life Center Atrium.
Anyone is more than welcome to use the bikes and can rent/return bikes at any bike rack located in the city. There is a method of payment called “pay as you go” and each ride will be at a rate of $8 for 60 minutes. However, everyone is encouraged to browse different payment plans that include monthly plans, annual plans, and even a student annual payment plan available at the Coast Bike website http://coastbikeshare.com/ .
Over the next few months, the city has plans to grow this sharing program and ultimately have 300 bikes and 30 hubs located around several parts of the city.
Current St. Pete System Map
Image from CoastBikeShare.com
The bike share program will also allow people to travel across the bay into Tampa without taking the Howard Frankland and Gandy Bridge. Cyclists will be able to bike to the 2nd Avenue Hub, take a $10, 50 minute ferry ride on The Cross Bay Ferry to Tampa, and rent another bike.
The program looks like it will be a success, and local business owners outside of downtown are more than excited to see the positive changes sure to come to their businesses now that people have more methods of transportation to explore the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg.
HCXOXO,
Vanessa