Community Corner
Free Bike Sharing Program Launches In Worcester
The bike-share company is expanding, and chose Worcester as one of its first to try out the program.
WORCESTER, MA—The city has become a bike share company's first in a wave of expansion, wheeling into Worcester with a launch on Thursday. Ofo is now available in Worcester, making bikes available to all to travel around the city.
The Worcester Chamber of Commerce has led the discussion about establishing a city-wide bike share program for more than a year with stakeholders from various groups including the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Council (CMRPC), Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA), the city of Worcester’s planning office, and the city manager’s office, said the press release. The groups researched the program’s feasibility for Worcester and explored a number of existing bike share programs.
Ofo was launched in China in 2015 and is now the world’s largest and fastest growing bike sharing platform with more than 25 million active users daily in over 170 cities around the world.
“We are excited to bring ofo’s signature yellow bikes to Worcester,” said Grace Lin, vice president of ofo North America, in a statement. “ofo was founded with a simple vision in mind – to unlock every corner of the world. Already we’ve seen our impact in cities around the world – easing the burden of commuting, providing access to those who need it, enhancing tourists’ transportation options, and reducing the impact of buses and cars on the environment. We look forward to working with the Chamber of Commerce to make ofo a success in Worcester.”
Unlike many other community bike shares, no financial commitment or sponsorship was required helping the group to pass a significant hurdle. Additional benefits of the ofo bike share program include the flexibility allowed by the station-free program that does not require docking stations or even a bike rack, continues the announcement. Bicycles are located using a GPS finder on ofo’s mobile app. Bikes are equipped with a smart lock on the rear wheel that is unlocked when a user scans the QR code on the bike, using her or his phone. When the trip is finished, the user parks the bike in a legal space and locks the bike ready for the next rider. The company re-balances bikes to ensure that they are available in high-use areas, maintained, and parked appropriately, said the release.
The ofo service is $1 per hour.
“The Chamber took the lead on this effort because of the many tangible benefits of a bike share program – from the economic to the position of the city as a innovation hub, to the health benefits, this program will help Worcester appeal to a broad range of businesses and residents alike,” said Timothy P. Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “We worked with stakeholders to ensure that we looked at all of the aspects of the program, and could not be happier with the service, convenience, and ‘it factor’ that ofo provides. We can’t wait until we see their bright yellow bikes on Worcester streets.”
City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr., said in a statement, “We are excited that ofo chose to invest in Worcester… We think this can be a great program not just as alternative transportation, but a way to keep active and enjoy our city.”
Photo Credit: ofo
