Breeze Bike Share presented by Hulu is off to a rolling start. To date, the City of Santa Monica owned bike share system has accumulated 2,128 members completing 8,760 trips. In total, members have traveled 17,887 miles, about the equivalent of three round trips from Santa Monica to New York City, logging over 3,900 hours of ride time.
When compared to automotive travel Breeze has saved riders $11,260, reduced carbon emissions by 17,120 lbs., and riders have burned an estimated 776,591 an calories.
Holiday shoppers took advantage of this new mode of transportation to track down the best Black Friday deals in Santa Monica. Last Friday 130 new members signed up for Breeze Bike Share. On Black Friday there were 405 total trips equaling 1,087 miles traveled. Keep in mind the black Hulu basket on every Breeze Bike is ideal for toting those holiday purchases.
“The City of Santa Monica is proud of our community’s long-term commitment to sustainability,” says Mayor Kevin McKeown, who is currently in Paris as part of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. “Breeze Bike Share is just one facet of our City’s plan to improve mobility while protecting our environment. We are proud to lead the Southern California region in adopting a bike share system and thrilled Santa Monicans are embracing Breeze Bike Share as an easy way to get around town, especially during this busy holiday season.”
Since launching the full 500-bike system on November 12, 2015, the Ocean Ave and Colorado station above the Santa Monica Pier has racked up the most users, followed closely by the station at Ocean Ave and Olympic Drive near Tongva Park.
“It has been extremely exciting seeing the residents, visitors and tourists of Santa Monica embrace the accessibility of the bikes and enjoy the benefit of a fun and easy way to get around the city,” said Ron Durgin, SoCal Regional Manager for Cyclehop, “We are encouraged by the early numbers, which show the system is off to a great start, and our expectation is for continued membership growth in anticipation of the Expo Line’s spring arrival.”
As Breeze Bike Share continues to grow in popularity, it will also reduce car trips, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve mobility for Santa Monica residents, employees, and visitors. Bike share is an important component in the City’s overall strategy to offer the community sustainable alternatives to vehicle trips to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. City leaders anticipate Breeze bike rides will replace the short trips around town that used to require a car ride and biking is the ideal way to access Expo Light Rail when it arrives in spring of 2016.
In the coming months the City and Breeze Bike Share will be working to fine-tune the bike share system to maximize the system’s operational efficiency, customer usefulness, and safety for all users and bystanders.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a founding member of Breeze Bike Share. December is the last month to join as a founding member. For just $99 you will receive a full year of bike share, which includes 60 minutes of use a day, and a special Breeze Founding Member gift pack! For more information go to www.breezebikeshare.com.
