Tuesday, June 13, 2017
The City of Dearborn today launched a new bike-share program with Zagster, Inc. and Beaumont that will provide all Dearborn residents and visitors with a convenient, affordable and healthy way to get around town.
Starting today, 50 cruiser bikes will be available at 10 stations located throughout Downtown Dearborn for members to use for on-demand, local trips. The Dearborn Bike Share Program is part of Dearborn’s ongoing multi-modal city transformation. This evolution is a result of a collaboration with the city of Dearborn, Dearborn schools and Beaumont Health promote healthy eating and active living for all through the Healthy Dearborn program. The Zagster bike share initiative is one of the first projects aimed at offering Dearborn residents and visitors more diversified mobility options for enhanced bicycle and pedestrian friendliness - all key to the city’s future growth and livability.
Bike rental stations will be located in both east and west downtowns at the Bryant Library, West Village Commons, John D. Dingell Transit Center, Arab American National Museum, City Hall Artspace Lofts, Commandant's Quarters, behind Buffalo Wild Wings on Howard Street, and the intersections of Oakwood Boulevard and Michigan Avenue, Military Street and Michigan Avenue and Schlaff Street and Michigan Avenue. This is the first phase in a series of station installations planned for the City.
“Bike sharing is another great way for visitors to experience Dearborn, either for the first time or through another look. People have come to expect this opportunity in destination cities, and we consider Dearborn one of those,” said Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. “It complements other biking activities and our plans for many more miles of bike paths and lanes. It is definitely a fun part of our mobility initiatives and fits in with our commitment to sustainability, to promoting our downtowns and to attracting millennials.”
Added O’Reilly, “We’re grateful to Don and Mary Kosch, Beaumont and Healthy Dearborn for working with us to make bike sharing possible in our town this summer.”
The City of Dearborn - with partners The Kosch Family and Beaumont Health, who collaboratively donated $1.2 million, and the support of Healthy Dearborn and Downtown Dearborn - unveiled the program today at a kickoff ceremony at the John D. Dingell Transit Center. The event included a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with remarks from Dave Norwood, Sustainability Coordinator, Dearborn; Max Widmer and Michael Sheppard, Zagster, Inc.; Betty Priskorn, Vice President of Community Health and Outreach, Beaumont Health; Don & Mary Kosch, The Kosch Family; and Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. The event concluded with a 2-mile celebratory bike ride through Downtown West Dearborn.
“I have lived and worked in this community all my life, and I am delighted to give back by supporting Healthy Dearborn and the Bike Dearborn programs,” said Donald Kosch. “This is just one way to provide the resources needed to teach children and residents a healthier way of living. It feels good to give, but more importantly it does good. When you can do that, it’s a great combination.”
“We are so proud to be a partner in launching this transformative Healthy Dearborn initiative that will engage the community in health and well-being outside the walls of our eight hospitals,” said Betty Priskorn, vice president of community health, Beaumont Health. “As the founding philanthropic leader, the Kosch family’s generous gift will support a dedicated 6-mile bike path and bike share program that will create a powerful impact across the entire Dearborn community.”
The Healthy Dearborn collaboration is part of a community coalition of more than 200 residents and representatives from various sectors working together to improve health and quality of life in Dearborn.
Don and Mary Kosch and the Beaumont Foundation leadership recognizes that health and well-being are interconnected with social, cultural, physical, economic and other factors. The powerful impact of the collaboration of all partners provides the necessary support to improve quality of life and healthy lifestyles across the community.
Downtown Dearborn’s business leaders project the bike share program will also stimulate the local economy, providing visitors, employees and students alike with quicker, easier modes of access to the many destinations throughout Dearborn.
Participating in the Dearborn Bike Share Program
Riding Dearborn Bike Share is easy. Bikes can be found via the free Zagster Mobile App - available for iPhone and Android - or online.
With just the single touch of a button in the app, riders can control a Bluetooth-enabled locking system that features two points of security. (Alternatively, riders can obtain unlock codes via text message to use with an on-bike keypad.) A ring lock prevents the rear wheel from spinning or being removed, and two sturdy cables - one at each station dock, and one on each bike - connect to the ring lock, allowing riders to either tether bikes to Zagster stations at the end of their trips or to public bike racks for mid-ride stops.
After the rider returns the bike to a designated Zagster bike station, the rental ends and the bike is available for the next person to enjoy.
Unlike other programs in which riders must drop off bikes at designated stations for every stop, Zagster’s programs give users the freedom to ride as long as they want, wherever they want. And because Zagster manages all aspects of its programs - from bikes and technology to maintenance and marketing - Zagster partners create and deploy scalable bike-share systems that best suit their communities.
Riders join the program by signing up for an annual membership online or participating as a non-member, hourly guest. An annual membership - for riders who must be 18 or older - is $20, however members who sign up early, using promo code bikedearborn, will receive a 50 percent discount. Members receive the first 2 hours of each ride free and a $2 fee for each hour afterward, up to $20.
Dearborn Bike Share features the Zagster 8, an award-winning bike known for its practical design, comfortable ride and easy handling. The bike includes a spacious basket that’s perfect for carrying groceries, takeout, or personal belongings. And because rider safety is a priority, every bike includes automatic lights, a bell and full reflectors.