RideKC and BikeWalkKC announce a new partnership to bring shared-use electric assist bicycles to Kansas City. RideKC and BikeWalkKC will partner with Drop Mobility, a leading micromobility provider, to launch this new fleet of smart e-bikes. The newly branded RideKC Bike program, powered by Drop Mobility’s hardware and software, will launch Nov. 30 with 150 electric-assist bikes featuring “lock-to” smart technology, rolling out over the coming months.
As part of the program’s future growth, a unique new public/private/non-profit partnership will provide shared transportation services that expand and improve bike sharing in the metro. The lock-to system will work alongside the existing bike share system: using a smartphone app, a user locates a bike near them and unlocks the bike. When finished riding, the user parks and locks the bike to any designated bike rack or existing bike share station, using an attached lock, or docks at an existing bike share station. The app will provide location information for “hubs” or bike parking station locations. The bikes are equipped with on-board GPS, which notifies RideKC Bike operating staff when the bike needs service or charging. Electric-assist bikes help riders by boosting their efforts while pedaling, providing ease for climbing hills, longer rides and for users with physical limitations that prevent extended cycling.
“The RideKC family of transit options has just become more robust,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “And that’s good news for consumers. We understand that people want the freedom to choose how they get around. Now they have more choices than ever, from streetcars, to e-bikes, to buses, to bike share, to scooters to paratransit and more. This three-way partnership is another ‘first’ in the Kansas City transit space.”
“Shared mobility is rapidly evolving worldwide with new technologies such as dockless and electric-assist options,” said Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC Executive Director. “We are excited to be working with Drop Mobility and the KCATA to roll out a new electric fleet to ensure bikes are responsibly secured, and yet accessible to more people.”
“Since our founding, we have been committed to furthering the advent of micromobility by creating operating models and hardware that both last for the long-haul and solve a real transportation need for all residents of the communities we serve. We’re delighted to be working with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and BikeWalkKC. Through this partnership, we will deliver a truly seamless, integrated and sustainable micromobility service,” said Qiming Weng, CEO of Drop Mobility.
Media inquiries contact:
Karen Campbell
BikeWalkKC
Director of Communications & Development
(816) 205-7056, ext. 2
karen.campbell@bikewalkkc.org
Cindy Baker
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Chief External Affairs Officer
(816) 510-2874 (cell)
cbaker@kcata.org
Matthew Lumsden
Drop Mobility
External Affairs
press@dropmobility.com
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s mission is to connect people to opportunities throughout the Greater Kansas City metropolitan region. KCATA was created in 1965 throughspecial state legislative action in both Missouri and Kansas. The region’s public transportationproviders are unified under one system, one name, one brand, RideKC, providing more than 16 million trips per year.
BikeWalkKC is a nonprofit bicycle/pedestrian advocacy organization serving greater Kansas City. Our programs and services empower citizens, communities, and professionals for excellence in advocating, planning, and engineering for better walking and bicycling.
Drop Mobility is a leading shared electric micromobility solutions provider for cities across North America. Drop operates a micromobility platform truly integrated into city transportation infrastructure, while providing highly reliable systems that entail not just quality hardware, but also attention to detail in software, operations and user experience. Users can find Drop Mobility vehicles on the Drop Mobility app. Checking out and returning a bike or scooter is seamless with a smartphone, and users can conveniently park vehicles within the service area