For Broad Ripple residents and visitors seeking alternative transportation, there are four Pacers Bikeshare station that serve the area.

They are located at the Canal at College Avenue (22 docks), the Monon Trail at Westfield Boulevard (11 docks), the Monon Trail at 54th Street (23 docks) and on the Canal at Westfield Boulevard & Illinois Street (21 docks).

According to their recent press release, the Pacers Bikeshare program celebrated six years on April 22 as the City public bike share program continues to provide essential transportation during stay at home orders issued. The community bike program is a partnership between the City and Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc.

Kären Haley is Executive Director of Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. She said, "All four of these stations were added last fall as part of the Pacers Bikeshare expansion. Some of our largest stations are in Broad Ripple. We held the ribbon cutting event for the expansion at the station on the Monon and Westfield Boulevard location last fall with many VIPs, including Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett in attendance."

"There are several Pacers Bikeshare stations along the canal towpath and the Monon, in addition to the ones in Broad Ripple. In total, there are now 50 stations in Indianapolis, most of which are located on the Cultural Trail, Monon Trail or White River Greenway. We know that people are more likely to ride a bike (and use Bikeshare) if they are separated from vehicle traffic as they are on protected bike lanes, trails and greenways. There are area stations also located near the Red Line bus depots and throughout Red Line routes as far south as Garfield Park," Ms. Haley mentioned.

She explained how to access the bicycles. "You can check out a bike by using a BCycle mobile app (This is the easiest and contact-free way to use it), via a station kiosk, or by becoming an annual pass holder. The pass is $125 for unlimited 60 minute trips for one year. (Information is available at www.pacersbikeshare.com.) We also have a program called EveryBody Rides which provides group rides to introduce people to the program and building community, as well as a reduced price pass for anyone who receives state or federal assistance. We also have an adaptive bike program that we started last spring with several different bikes available to meet different physical challenges. These bikes are available at our office downtown, however, since we provide a custom fitting for each person, and not at bike share stations. It's a great program for anyone who wants to or needs to ride an adaptive bike."

In the same press release, Ms. Haley, emphasized that the program has implemented the following practices to help protect employee and rider health during this time:

• Users are sent a text after completing their ride prompting them to wash or sanitize their hands.
• Bikes are sanitized before employees work on them in the field or in the office and before they are returned to the field.
• There is minimal station balancing to reduce employee contact with the bikes and stations.
• Pacers Bikeshare communications remind people to follow (Centers For Disease Control) CDC guidelines for hygiene and physical distancing.

Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc.'s mission is to enrich lives and connect people and places through dynamic and beautiful experiences and use the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and Pacers Bikeshare as a catalyst for economic growth.