NEWS

River Riders Bike Share program ready to roll

Deb Cleworth
Daily Tribune Media
Clean Green Action’s Joe Ancel works on loading bikes for River Riders Bike Share into a trailer at the former Daily Tribune building to be transported to Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday, June 9.
  • Helmets also available at no charge
  • A bike can be returned to any of the four check-out locations
  • All bikes are painted a distinctive cranberry red and each has its own name
  • Each location has five to six bikes%2C but additions are planned

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – A project put into gear more than a year ago is ready to hit the streets — and local bike trails.

The River Riders Bike Share program — one of the first rural bike-share programs in Wisconsin — is intended to give both residents and visitors a free way to get outdoors and exercise, and to get around town in the bargain. More than 20 bikes painted in distinctive cranberry red are available at four locations — Hotel Mead, the Wood County Health Department outside of Riverview Medical Center, South Wood County YMCA-Wisconsin Rapids location, and West Grand IGA. Tall, vertical banners will go up next week to identify the share sites.

Cyclists can check out bikes, located in a River Riders bike rack at each site, at no cost and use them for up to 24 hours. A bike can be returned to any of the locations; it's not necessary to return the bike to where it was checked out. Check-outs are available during the host location's regular business hours.

Helmets, while not required, also are available for use at no charge at time of check out. The first time people check out bikes, they are required to fill out some paperwork, but then they are good to go for the summer.

"The bikes are out," said Danielle Hiller, a public health nurse with Wood County and co-chairwoman for Healthy People Wood County. "They're going to be out and rolling this summer, so I'm excited."

The initiative is a collaborative effort of Healthy People Wood County, Noon Rotary, Citizens for Clean Green Action committee, and the Incourage Community Foundation Teen Leadership group.

Kelly Giese, director of sales at Hotel Mead, sees the bikes as an economic draw. When she is approached by groups what want to host at the hotel, Giese often is asked what outside amenities the community has to offer.

"(Guests are) always looking for things to do in the area and not all of them have a vehicle when they come," Giese said. "A lot of people aren't able to travel with bikes and we have a wonderful river walk path they are able to enjoy."

Several community businesses and organizations also helped with the effort. Hours went into getting the bikes ready for the launch. Bikes were dismantled, painted a cranberry color for branding purposes and identification, and reassembled. Each bike has an informational label listing check-out locations, and is equipped with a lock.

In addition to the cranberry color to identify the bikes as part of the program, each bike has a name.

"Whoever donated a specific bike was able to name it," Hiller said. "I think that's kind of neat that the community will be able to see that."

The name of a River Riders Bike Share bike is on display at the former Daily Tribune building in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday, June 9. The River Riders Bike Share bikes are painted cranberry red.

A member of Clean Green Action — a sustainability and environmental group — came up with the idea, said Joe Ancel, one of the committee members.

"When the Health Department took the lead on it, our members have been helping out," said Ancel. "We've been helping out with supervising the teen leaders when they were painting the bikes, now we're helping out trying to get the bikes in their stands at their sites."

Right now, each location has between five and six bikes, but between 80 and 90 more awaiting helping hands, Hiller said. Those bikes need to be taken apart, painted, and reassembled.

"We would love volunteers, and anyone who knows maintenance about bikes would be wonderful," she said.

Giese sees weekends as a prime time for guests to use the program.

"This just gives another extra amenity for people to use and enjoy," Giese said "We just hope Wisconsin weather provides us with longer seasons for spring, summer and fall, so we have a bigger window to utilize it."

Going Out reporter Deb Cleworth can be reached at 715-423-7200, ext.6730 or deb.cleworth@cwnews.net. Follow her on Twitter @DebCleworth.

Clean Green Action’s Joe Ancel, left, and Danielle Hiller, a public health nurse with Wood County and the co-chair for Healthy People Wood County, work on unloading bikes at Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday, June 9. Hotel Mead is a site for the River Riders Bike Share program.

Where to go

There are currently four River Riders Bike Share locations:

• Hotel Mead & Conference Center, 251 E. Grand Ave.

• West Grand IGA, 1021 W. Grand Ave.

• Wood County Health Department, fourth floor of the Riverview Clinic building, 420 Dewey St.

• South Wood County YMCA at 1421 Pepper Ave.

Find out more

• Bikes can be checked out for 24 hours. Three different sizes — adult, adolescent and youth — are available, but all need to be signed out by an adult.

• To find out more about the program, inquire about being a host site, donate a bike rack or help prep bikes, contact Danielle Hiller at the Wood County Health Department, 715-421-8924 or dhiller@co.wood.wi.us

• Bike Share committee members will be at the June 18 Chamber of Commerce Lunch by the River and that night's Cinema Under the Stars. Members of the committee also will be riding bikes in the Cranberry Blossom Festival Parade at noon June 21 in downtown Wisconsin Rapids.

• Check out the River Riders Bike Share program on Facebook.