A Greenwood bike rental program that started two years ago didn’t attract much interest during its first run, but the hope is that the remodeled community center and new downtown trails will prompt more people to borrow a bike and take a ride.
Greenwood purchased a set of eight bikes to start its bicycle rental program, BIKEiT, with a $4,000 grant from the Johnson County Community Foundation in 2015. The cruiser-style bikes are available to rent for anywhere from $1 to $9, depending on how long they are used.
The goal was to inspire more people to get on the city’s trails, but only five bikes were rented in 2015. The program was shuttered for the 2016 summer due to the renovations at the Greenwood Community Center, where the bike rental program was based, Greenwood Parks and Recreation Department Director Rob Taggart said.
The bikes now are available to be rented again, and the hope is that additional people coming to the community center as well as rapidly approaching improvements to downtown parks and trails, will inspire more people to begin biking both with and without city bikes, he said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Improvements to trails around the Greenwood Amphitheater are underway this summer. A project to revamp Old City Park, which includes turning Machledt Drive into a path for pedestrians and bicyclists, is planned as well. A start date for that work hasn’t been announced.
Greenwood is the only Johnson County city with its own bike rental program. People interested in riding a bike can sign in at the community center.
One potential change could be in where the bike rentals will be located. With the possibility of the Mrs. Curl Ice Cream Shop vacating its current location and moving to the southeast corner of Main and Meridian streets, the current Mrs. Curl building could be purchased or leased by the city and used for bike rentals, Taggart said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Bike rentals
Location: Greenwood Community Center
Cost: $1-9, for 30 minutes to 8 hours
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
