Red Bike Opens, Adding Sustainable Transportation Option

A new, sustainable option for getting around Uptown and beyond came to the medical campus Monday, Sept. 15, when the city of Cincinnati’s bike sharing program made its debut.

Known as Red Bike, the program is a point-to-point bicycle transportation system that has 30 stations in downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Uptown, which includes UC. Users pay an $8-a-day fee or can buy an annual pass for $80. UC Health is a corporate sponsor.

Locations along the medical campus perimeter include one across Goodman Drive from the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center and one at the corner of Eden Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive. The three-speed commuter bikes include a comfortable saddle, front and back flashing lights and a front basket.

So how does Red Bike work?

If you wanted to bike from the medical campus to UC’s west campus, for example, you would go to a station and either purchase a pass with a credit card or use an existing membership pass. There are 60 minutes of ride time with each checkout; it’s $4 for each additional 30 minutes. Any pass (daily or annual) includes unlimited 60-minute rides for its duration, encouraging frequent turnover.

At the west campus, you would dock the bike at one of several perimeter stations, take care of your business and check out another bike for the return trip (no further payment needed as long as the pass is in effect).

Passes can be purchased at cincyredbike.org in addition to the stations. The website also has basic information on the program and an FAQ section.

Red Bike will exist alongside Bearcat Bike Share, UC’s four-year-old free bike sharing program.