New bike ride share program to start in South Lake Tahoe Saturday

South Lake Tahoe is about to be invaded by a fleet of 200 cutting-edge lime green "smart" bicycles. LimeBike out of the Bay Area unveiled their new dockless ride share on Tuesday, giving the public a sneak peak of what will officially start on the South Shore Saturday, July 15 for a pilot program.

"We are thrilled to be here," said Andrew Savage, Vice President of Strategic Development for LimeBike. "This will make mobility more fun."

The concept is easy. One downloads their smart phone app, and when they come across one of the brightly colored bicycles they can scan the bar code on the bike and ride off with for a cost of $1 for 30 minutes. If there isn't a bike right in front of the user they can use the app to find the closest one.

Each bike is equipped with a solar panel (in the basket) that charges the battery which controls the locking system, 3G WiFi and GPS.

The bicycles don't even get flat tires.

Founded in January 2017, LimeBike is currently at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Seattle, Washington; Key Biscayne, Florida; South Bend, Indiana and now South Lake Tahoe.

LimeBike partnered with the League to Save Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to bring their fleet of bikes to the South Shore. The company will be partnering with local businesses, include bike rental ones, to have LimeBikes at their location.

After the first 30 minutes the second half-hour is just another $1. There will soon be an option for frequent users where they can load 100 rides onto the app for $30. Students will get 50 percent off that.

What is also valuable about the smart bikes is the data they can collect. LimeBike will be able to see what trails people use at what times of day. This data can be shared with those tasked with the Lake Tahoe Basin's mobility.

The ride share bikes are meant to be affordable.

"We want people to ride the bikes," said Savage.

He said the bikes will be well maintained, well distributed and evaluate need during the short-term pilot which is expected to last until October.

One doesn't typically see a bike share system in a town the size of South Lake Tahoe, but with the push to get people out of their cars, and with the large number of tourists that can be in town on any given day, it seemed liked the right place to start according to the company.

LimeBike launched the North Carolina bike share system with 125 bikes and 150 in Key Biscayne.

Look for the lime green bikes at local motels, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, restaurants and other spots. Savage said the bikes will be "walk up ready" and a full list of partners will be available this week.

"This is a way to get out of vehicles and enjoy Tahoe," said SLT City Councilmember Brook Laine.

Councilmember Jason Collin said he'd used bike share in Europe and Chicago.

"Thank you for bringing this to test in our community," Mayor Austin Sass told Savage. "It's a great concept."