The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city of Los Angeles on Thursday launched a bike-sharing program in downtown Los Angeles in an effort to diversify transportation options in the area, officials said.
Up to 1,000 bicycles will be placed at 65 locations in downtown, including Union Station, City Hall, Grand Park, the L.A. Convention Center, and others.
Civic leaders and members of bicycle organizations helped distribute the bicycles Thursday.
“I look forward, as the mayor of L.A., to taking a bike out to go to lunch,” Mayor Eric Garrett said.
Many bike stations will be placed near a Metro Rail stations and bus stops, making it easy for riders to get around, officials said.
People who live and work in downtown are encouraged to sign up for a bike-share pass in advance because the program will be exclusively available to pass holders until Aug. 1, officials said. The system will be open to “walk-up customers” after that.
Metro has three pass options: a monthly pass is $20, a Flex Pass is $40 per year and a Walk-Up Pass is $3.50 for 30 minutes. The last option debuts in August and riders will be offered a 50 percent discount until September.
New customers can purchase a monthly pass online, while existing TAP card holders can register their current card and add the bike-share access to it.
