Electric bicycles rentals are becoming a thing of the present. Towns and universities across the country are seeing the potential e-bikes have as gas prices continue to rise. Because of this influx in cost by driving a gas-powered vehicle, innovative ways to get around are popping up.
The University of Nevada, Reno has started renting out e-bikes to students for about $30 a month. Many people spend $30 per month in gas alone, and that doesn’t include maintenance and insurance for the car. A professor at University of Nevada, Reno even admitted to spending $420 a year for a parking pass on campus. That’s $60 more a month than renting the e-bike for the entire year!
In an earlier blog, I had discussed the new idea of bicycle share programs starting in the United States. Well, the first electric-bicycle share program is here. The University of Tennessee is testing the first electric-bike share is the U.S. called the CycleUshare.
Having e-bikes available for students and staff at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Tennessee has the potential to spur more electric-bike share programs all over the United States. Because of the enormous success of such programs in Europe, more communities are beginning to see how electric-bike shares can work in their neighborhoods. To name a few, California, Washington, and Arizona have looked into e-bike sharing programs. Hopefully we’ll soon be seeing more electric-bike sharing in our future!