Providence Adds 700 Of Uber's JUMP Electric Bikes

PROVIDENCE, RI — JUMP, Uber's electric bicycle-sharing service, has expanded across the entire city. Mayor Jorge Elorza and Uber on Monday announced the addition of 700 more bikes — more than doubling the previous amount. Providence is one of 16 cities across the U.S. with the dockless bike-sharing program.

"The JUMP bike share program has been a big hit for Providence residents and visitors alike," Mayor Elorza said. "A citywide service expansion and additional e-bikes will allow more people than ever before to explore and commute in Providence in an eco-friendly and fun way. By embracing innovative mobility options and improving connectivity in our neighborhoods we’re creating a more inclusive and vibrant capital city."

The expansion brings the total number of bikes in the city to 1,100. Uber said 22 new, full-time jobs have been created for the program.

JUMP bikes were initially only available in downtown, South Providence, Federal Hill, Smith Hill, Fox Point, College Hill, Wayland, Mount Hope and parts of Elmwood, Hope, Valley, Washington Park and the West End. With the new expansion, bikes will now be available throughout these areas as well as in Blackstone, Charles, Elmhurst, Hartford, Manton, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Reservoir, South Elmwood, Silver Lake and Wanskuck — which covers areas including Roger Williams Park, Lippit Park and Rhode Island College. The bikes are dockless, meaning they can be rented from anywhere in the city rather than just at designated stations.

"Our mission at JUMP is to get more people on bikes, so they have affordable and convenient ways to move around without needing a car," said Persis Elavia, general manager for JUMP in New England. "We’re excited to expand our service area in Providence and offer more residents a convenient and reliable way to move around the city."

The expansion was funded in part by the program's sponsors, Lifespan and Tufts Health Plan, as well as the city of Providence and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA).

"We are very excited that JUMP and the city of Providence are expanding the footprint of the bike share program, and hope that all of Rhode Island's residents get the chance to take a ride this year," said Tom Croswell, Tufts Health Plan president and CEO. "This bike share program promotes health through physical activity, and also contributes to the health of the environment. Our collaboration with this program helps us further our mission to improve the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve."

To use the bikes, riders tap the bike icon in the either the Uber or JUMP app, which will show a map of available bikes nearby. Once a bike is reserved, the app will provide a PIN number to unlock the bike lock. Rides cost two dollars for the first half hour and seven cents per minute after that. When finished, riders simply lock the bike onto a bike rack, street sign or other area. The company said each bike is equipped with a GPS system to ensure bikes are not locked in unsafe areas such as crosswalks or streets and that riders operate the bikes safely and within designated areas.

More information is available on JUMP's website.