Are you thinking about using a bicycle for more of your transportation needs in Las Vegas? Many cyclists have been riding in Vegas for years, while others are just learning about the positive environmental impact of bicycles as opposed to automobiles, and how effective cycling can be as a form of exercise. Whether you are planning to ride a bicycle to work as a commuter or simply as a means of exercise or recreation, you may want to learn more about the relatively new bicycle-sharing program in downtown Las Vegas.
Indeed, Vegas has decided to implement a bicycle-sharing plan similar to those in other major metropolitan areas across the country. What do you need to know about the bicycle-sharing program to decide whether it could be the right choice for your cycling needs? And what steps can you take to prevent bicycle accidents?
The Las Vegas bicycle-sharing program is relatively new to the city. According to an article in from BCycle the program launched in early October 2016 through a partnership including the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), Bicycle Transit Systems, and BCycle. The program is called the RTC Bike Share, and it is “the valley’s first public bike share system in downtown Las Vegas.”
According to the BCycle article, RTC Bike Share is a program that “provides a convenient and easy-to-use transportation alternative to short trips in the downtown area.” Rather than drive your car around downtown Las Vegas, you can “check out a bike from one station and return it to another station” near your final destination. When the program opened, it has 21 separate stations across Las Vegas and particularly in “popular locations downtown.”
It has 180 bikes that are available to users, and you can check them out for up to 24 hours.
The RTC bike share is designed for residents of Las Vegas, commuters to the city, and tourists alike. If you are able to check out one of the bicycles at one of those 21 different stations, you can keep it for up to 24 hours in a day. As the same time, you do not need to worry about keeping the bike for a number of hours if you plan to return it almost immediately after running an errand. As such, users of the RTC Bike Share can plan accordingly.
As many residents and tourists alike know, Las Vegas has dedicated green bicycle lanes and a “state-of-the-art bike center at the Bonneville Transit Center.” In other words, Vegas is becoming a cycling city, and tourists, commuters, and residents should all feel as though they can participate in the bicycle-sharing program.
In general, the RTC Bike Share program is very reasonably priced. You can pay $4 for only 30 minutes with one of the shared bicycles, or 24 hours for “a 24-hour pass.” These shorter, one-time passes may be best for individuals who are tourists in Las Vegas for a finite period of time. For commuters and residents, you can pay $20 to secure a 30-day membership in RTC Bike Share.
As of April 2017, the RTC Bike Share program showed that it had 8,269 rentals in the first six months of the program alone, according to an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In that period of time, “riders logged 25,000 miles in more than 4,000 hours to burn an estimated 1 million calories since the program started in early October. By all accounts this is an indication that the program has been quite successful.
While there is no definitive way to avoid a serious bicycle accident, it is important to learn safety tips and to look at prevention resources to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe when you are out cycling. According to a safety tip sheet from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), our state has “an active bicycling community dedicated to safety and to enjoyment of the unique riding experiences in the Silver State.”
To stay safe on an RTC bicycle accidents, you should abide by the term “share the road,” recognizing that you will be in traffic with many other motorists. It is important for bicyclists, according to the DMV, to use hand signals before turning and to always make eye contact with drivers in other vehicles to ensure that you have been seen.
If you have questions, a Las Vegas bicycle accident lawyer may be able to help. Visit this webpage – https://www.ladahlaw.com/las-vegas-car-accident-lawyer/bicycle-accidents – to speak to an advocate today.