Bike Share program to expand to Marshfield
By Hub City Times staff
WOOD COUNTY – A Wood County Bike Share program will expand into the city of Marshfield this summer.
In 2014, the River Riders Bike Share program was established by Wisconsin Rapids community members who saw the need for additional transportation and recreation options in the city. Between 2014 and 2017, community-donated bikes were made available at multiple locations and over 700 bike rides were logged.
The program then shifted to an app-based program that could better serve the community’s needs. In 2020, the program was put on hold; but, organizers have now brought it back in Wisconsin Rapids and are expanding to the northern part of the county.
“We are working with Koloni Inc., they are based in a small rural community in Iowa and understand what it means to have bike share programs in communities like ours,” Hannah Wendels, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, Wood County, through the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.
“The bike share program is an app-based program. You start by downloading the Koloni App. The Koloni App can be found on both Android and Apple stores. It is free to download and sign-up. You then create your own user account by following the in-app instructions.
“Once you are all set up with your account, follow the instructions presented to you in the app to unlock a bike. It will simply ask you to scan the QR code on the bike itself or input the bike ID number also located on the bike.
“Once your bike is unlocked, enjoy your ride. When you are finished with your ride, you will bring the bike to one of the four locations and follow the instructions on how to end your ride with the app and lock your bike back up. You will get a referral code after you finish your ride, and you can share it with others to earn free rides for the future.”
The bikes will be offered at four locations around the city: Wildwood Park & Zoo, the Marshfield Clinic Health System YMCA, Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library, and Marshfield Fairgrounds.
“Our bike share program focuses on making biking for all and that residents and visitors to the area will have increased access to transportation, recreation, and physical activity opportunities. We hope to better reach the needs of all community members and residents can explore the beautiful city of Marshfield this summer when they hop on a bike,” Wendels explained.
Organizers plan to have the bikes placed at each station in early June.
“We will be sure to make a big announcement when it does though. Please follow our Facebook page for additional updates, photos, and biking activities. You can share the Facebook page in your public article as well. Find us on Facebook @RiverRidersBikeShare,” Wendels said.