VeoRide Celebrates One-Year, Eyes 100,000 Rides

The Office for Sustainability

VeoRide bike rider passes in front of Old Main

VeoRide bike share program rolled out in Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas campus one year ago. The program launched as the largest bike share program in Arkansas on Sept. 19 of 2018 with 290 pedal bikes and 50 e-assist bikes. Another 100 e-assist bikes were added to the fleet in February 2019 for a total of 440 bikes.  

In the program's first year 8,705 VeoRide users have taken more than 85,000 rides covering more than 18,000 miles with zero injuries reported. The Fayetteville-UA program ranks number one in ridership within VeoRide's portfolio of mid-sized metro markets which operates in 36 cities across the United States. 

VeoRide has also given away 250 bike helmets in the community.

"We are very proud of the program's success." said Dane Eifling, coordinator of bicycle and pedestrian programs for the city of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas. "Every decision we have made with this program has always been focused on safety, maximizing ridership and increasing active transportation. We want to make sure the bikes are being used as much as possible every day."  

Support from Experience Fayetteville, the city of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas have helped to make VeoRide affordable for students, residents and visitors in Fayetteville.

VeoRide will be introducing lower unlock fees as it begins its second year. Pedal bikes were previously priced at 50 cents initial unlock, and then 50 cents for every 15-minute block thereafter. Now the pedal bikes will be 30 cents to unlock and 5 cents per minute. E-bike prices will remain the same at a $1 unlock fee and 10 cents per minute. 

Annual memberships for the pedal bikes are priced at $70 for general public and $35 for U of A and Fayetteville public school students and employees. 

Prior to launching in Fayetteville, VeoRide hired Andrew Miles, a Fayetteville local who serves as the program's general manager and heads regional operations for the growing micro-mobility company.

"Northwest Arkansas has long since held an active cycling community coupled with one of the more progressive city infrastructure plans in the country. That level of civic programming and community enthusiasm is evident in the rapid adoption of large-scale bike sharing here in the home of the Hogs," said Miles. 

In anticipation of the 100,000th ride on the bike share, VeoRide has announced that they will be giving away a one-year pedal bike membership and $50 in free ride credits (for E-bikes) to the lucky person who takes ride number 100,000. 

About the Office for Sustainability: The mission of the U of A Office for Sustainability is to motivate, facilitate and coordinate responsible practices through partnerships with students, faculty and staff across all campus departments. The Office for Sustainability uses the campus as a living laboratory by overseeing the implementation of the University of Arkansas environmental goals. These programs are supported by the U of A Facilities Management Resiliency Center, and are part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.