Lisa bass
Contributing writer
The Huckleberry Trail was filled with orange shirted bicyclers rolling from Christiansburg to Blacksburg early Wednesday.
Inaugural Roam NRV riders traverse the Huckleberry Trail Wednesday morning.
The 10 a.m. ceremonial “roll out” of the community bike share program was held in the parking lot of the New River Valley Mall. The bike-sharing phenomenon has arrived in the New River valley.
Roam NRV is a collaborative effort between Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Montgomery County and Virginia Tech along the private mobility company, Gotcha.
The local government partners provided $50,000.00 and secured $200,000.00 in start-up funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
Gotcha has installed twelve hubs and distributed 75 bikes across the town and Virginia Tech campus.
“Today’s launch of this bike sharing program took months of cooperation. This is alternative transportation for residents, students and tourists. The Huckleberry Trail is a gem to this community,” Christiansburg Mayor Micheal Barber said. “Thousands of people use the trail in all seasons and weather as recreational treasure or commuting access. Roam NRV is another expansion of the recreational value and healthy lifestyle in the community. I look forward to watching this program grow.”
Blacksburg Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith said, “This is a great day for the community with a valuable partnership and quality of life. Bike sharing complements alternative transportation in our communities. Bicycling is practical and fun from running errands to getting exercise. I am glad to be partnering with our neighbors on this program.”
Montgomery County Board of Supervisor Vice Chair, April DeMotts said, “I am amazed the different collaborative efforts among our partners to connect the concept of bike sharing to reality. The results of this dedication to Roam NRV will provide benefits to the community citizens and VT students. This bike share program will be used for daily and recreation needs. Visitors and tourists can explore more of the amenities of this area which support the county not only in money but jobs.”
Virginia Tech Vice President for Operations, Sherwood Wilson said, “When I was younger, every kid had a bike and it was a mechanism of freedom. Today, there seems to be a loss of bicycling as a mode of transportation. Bicycling is a great example of alternative transportation. VT tried its own bike sharing program but it failed. With the saying ‘the sum of the parts are greater than the sum of the whole’, I know Roam NRV will benefit VT students greatly.”
Gotcha is a turnkey bike share system company based in Charleston, South Carolina.
Gotcha customizes a bike share program for cities, towns, and universities. Their smart bikes are tech-enabled, tracked with GPS technology, equipped with anti-theft devices, and can be locked at any bike rack.
Megan McNamara, Gotcha Operation Manager, said, “There are already 340 members signed up for the Roam NRV by its first day in operation.”
Riders of this program can download a mobile app and register for an account. When anyone is interested in using a bright orange Roam NRV bike, a rider can access a map of the hubs and availability of bikes.
A six-digit account number and four-digit pin code will be entered into a keypad on the back of the bike. A u-shaped lock will disengage from the hub and be ready for rolling.
The keypad and locking system is energized by solar power as evident of the solar panel also on the back of the bike. Each bike has a front basket to hold a few items. Instead of a metal bike chain drive, the bike has a rubber belt drive to reduce rusting.
The bikes can take most hills on the Huckleberry Trail with a range of seven-gears within an internal gear hub in the rear wheel. The bike’s technology tracks a rider’s calories burned, carbon dioxide emissions reduced and money saved versus driving. Affixed to the bike’s handlebars is a basket and a tinkling bell to complete the riding experience.
There is a fee for using the Roam NRV. A 15-minute spin will cost $1.00 while an hour ride will cost $4.00.
There are unlimited access options for a twenty-four hour period, monthly and annual memberships. Bike can be reserved up to fifteen minutes before usage and Roam NRV users can rent up to three bikes at a time.
A smart phone and credit card are not necessarily needed. A Roam NRV flyer indicated registration and credit card payment can be completed on a computer. If someone wants to “pay in cash, visit Christiansburg Recreation Center, Virginia Tech Parking and Transportation Services, or the Blacksburg or Christiansburg Libraries.”
The Roam NRV will be managed by Blacksburg Transit. The Roam NRV partners anticipate ongoing operational costs will come from a combination of grant funds, local funds from the partners, bike share memberships, and sponsorships.
For more information, Google or Facebook “Roam NRV.”