South Bay Leader

Long Beach, CA – On May 4 the City of Long Beach launched the Bike Share For All (BSFA) Program which provides Long Beach Bike Share memberships to eligible applicants for an affordable $5 annual fee. The BSFA program will allow more people to take advantage of the City’s existing bike share system as a convenient, active and zero-emission way to travel.

“Bike Share For All expands reliable and sustainable transportation access for the people in Long Beach who need it most,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This program will increase economic, educational and recreational opportunities in our city and empower more communities to participate in our popular and successful bike share system.”  

The BSFA program is open to individuals who are 18 years and older who live, work or attend school in Long Beach with proof of low-income status. Applicants can upload paperwork showing enrollment in a qualifying benefits program such as Long Beach Utility Assistance, Medi-Cal/Medicaid, SNAP/EBT/CalFresh, or other public assistance programs. The application and a full list of eligible program documentation can be found at longbeach.gov/bsfa. Those wishing to pay using cash can do so via appointment at the GoActiveLB Hub in Downtown Long Beach, located at 223 E. First Street.

Launched in 2016, Long Beach Bike Share is a City-owned program providing residents and visitors with access to a network of more than 800 bikes deployed across nearly 100 docking stations. Users can sign up for either a monthly or annual membership or pay an hourly fee. Users can locate and borrow a bike by using the Social Bicycles (SoBi) app, and BSFA members without smartphones can also receive RFID cards, available upon request during the application process. Long Beach offers more than 150 miles of bicycle-friendly infrastructure, including bike paths, bicycle boulevards and separated bike lanes.  

“Long Beach is a great city for biking, but not everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy this healthy, carbon-free form of transportation,” said Department of Public Works Director Eric Lopez. “As our City builds toward a more resilient future, I am proud that we can expand access through the Bike Share For All program.”

Bike Share For All is made possible with funding from the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

About the City of Long Beach

Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 170 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Public Works

The Long Beach Public Works Department strives to operate, preserve, and enhance the City's physical infrastructure and transportation systems. The Department provides a variety of community services including the repair, rehabilitation and general upkeep of City streets, trees, sidewalks, and City structures. Public Works also provides emergency support services throughout the City. Visit us at longbeach.gov/pw/, and follow us on Facebook,  Twitter and Instagram.

Original source can be found here.