By Dennis M. Ayotte, Jr.
La Prensa de San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO – Mayor Julián Castro declared that May is Bike Month in San Antonio in celebration of the success of San Antonio’s bike-share program, San Antonio B-Cycle.
B-Cycle was launched in March 2011 and has amassed more than 1,200 members, 6,700 day-pass users and more than 124,000 miles ridden by patrons.
“The overwhelming success of San Antonio B-Cycle has proven that San Antonio is a model city for bike-sharing and as we work toward creating a fitter city, the bike-share program encourages a more active and healthy lifestyle,” said Mayor Castro. “One of the many successes of the program is that it provides an opportunity for avid cyclists to recreate downtown and has also reached first-time users who have made a commitment toward better health.”
Second to Denver, San Antonio B-Cycle is the busiest B-Cycle program in the nation and the first city in Texas to institute a modern bike-share program.
This month the program celebrates another milestone with the recent announcement of a $200,000 contribution from San Antonio residents Dr. Kenneth and Kim Ciolli. In addition, the contribution comes with a new helmet awareness program that encourages B-Cycle members to wear helmets when cycling.
Helmets are available to borrow or can be purchased at the San Antonio B-Cycle hub, located at the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard at S. Alamo Street.
“We have been both competitive and recreational cyclists in San Antonio for a number of years. When we thought about where we wanted to start investing our dollars, we carefully thought about what and how we could help San Antonio and its citizens,” Kim Ciolli, an emergency room nurse and San Antonio businesswoman said.
San Antonio B-Cycle and the City of San Antonio recently installed new bike share stations at HemisView Village, SAHA Park and Twelve Twenty One Broadway and will be implementing the Mission Reach expansion later this year.
“This is just the beginning and we are excited to see the San Antonio business community match this contribution as we find corporate sponsors to play a role in our future,” said San Antonio B-Cycle Executive Director Cindi Snell.
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Finish reading San Antonio Mayor Castro proclaims May ‘Bike Month’
