Community Developments

Bikesharing has become a popular transportation option in communities across the country – and now it is making its way to the Roanoke Valley.

If you’re not familiar with bikesharing, here’s how it works: a series of stations are set up across the community with several bicycles at each station. Through a membership system, people can check out a bicycle from one station and ride it to another station. Generally, short, one-way trips like this are free as part of a standard membership, but riders can always choose to keep the bicycle out longer for an additional, incremental fee.

Other rental structures may be provided for short-term rentals for visitors, or longer trip rentals for folks who may want to spend the day touring the community by bike.

Bikesharing serves as a complementary transportation option to driving and transit by making it easy for people to take short trips by bike without having to own one, and knowing the bike they are riding is well-maintained and comfortable. It can be particularly useful in urban centers where downtown residents may check out the bikes for short shopping or social trips across town.

RIDE Solutions, the region’s commuter options program, is working to bring bikesharing to the Roanoke Valley this spring. The program is expected to start with stations in and around downtown Roanoke, connecting the valley’s urban center to its nearby neighborhoods, greenways, and commercial centers. From there, additional locations considered include downtown Vinton, downtown Salem, and more.

By bringing bikeshare to Roanoke RIDE Solutions hopes to enable more bicycle transportation in the valley to reduce congestion, improve road safety, improve air quality, and provide access to healthy activity, all while promoting Roanoke’s brand as a great place to be outdoors and supporting its overall economic development efforts.



But there is more work to be done. First, RIDE Solutions is asking residents to complete a short survey that will help make sure that the bikeshare program will be structured to help the most people.

Second, bikeshare won’t work without the support of local businesses through sponsorship. The benefits of bikeshare sponsorship include discounted memberships for employees and customers, recognition on bikes and stations, and more. But the biggest benefit is being a part of making this great amenity a reality for our citizens and visitors. Businesses interested in sponsorship can email or call the RIDE Solutions Director, Jeremy Holmes, at 1-866-424-3334.

RIDE Solutions is proud to be able to bring this amazing opportunity to the Roanoke Valley. With bikeshare, it will be even easier to access everything that makes this place one of the best places in America to live, work, and play.