Ford GoBike Takes Off in San Jose

Bike EquityConnecting Our Communi...Featured

Nov 1

“We've got one million people here and we know they can move around happier on two wheels than on four,” declared Mayor Sam Liccardo.San Jose’s Ford GoBike launch celebration kicked off last Thursday with plenty of early buzz. Hosted at San Pedro Square Market, the celebration began with remarks from guest speakers, including San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and SVBC Executive Director Shiloh Ballard, and commenced with a charity bike ride in downtown. SVBC staffers joined an energized crowd on the ride and helped raise $2,000 to support North Bay wildfire relief.The Ford GoBike bike share system previously launched in San Francisco and Oakland and recently rolled out in San Jose with giddy excitement. Currently, there are 34 Ford GoBike stations located in and around Downtown San Jose. Nine additional stations are coming soon and by 2018, there will be 80+ stations including several dockless bikes. Bypassing San Francisco and Oakland, San Jose has the highest placement of stations in Communities of Concern, the proxy to target communities that serve low-income people of color.In her comments to the crowd, SVBC Executive Director Shiloh Ballard addressed bike equity and our goal of making bike share accessible to everyone. To address bike equity in the Bay Area, SVBC is honored to work with organizations Motivate (Ford GoBike’s operator), MTC and TransForm by offering one year of bike share for just $5 through Bike Share for All program. This free community resource was built by Bay Area residents in partnership with community organizations, providing a $5 annual first year membership for qualifying Bay Area residents.Bike Share for All features include:

One-time $5 Annual Membership ($5/month in subsequent years)
Bikes available 24/7/365 in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and San Jose
Membership includes 60 minutes per trip
In-person enrollment at select locations
No credit or debit card required
Clipper card compatible

Eligibility:If you are a Bay Area resident 18 and older with CalFresh, SFMTA (Low Income Lifeline Passes) or PG&E CARE utility discount, you qualify for a $5 membership. Join Ford GoBike's membership today.Unfortunately many communities of color and low-income communities are currently and historically underrepresented in bike sharing demographics. SVBC will reach out to low-income residents and communities of color to promote awareness and utilization of public bike sharing. Through partnerships with affordable housing developers and community-based organizations, SVBC will work to mobilize and sign up people for $5 bike share memberships. Our community engagement efforts also include leading educational bike skills workshops, outreach presentations and tabling at organized community events in and near Ford GoBike network footprint. Working alongside the community, our collective voices can change the conversation of bike share to be inclusive and accessible for all.For more information, please feel free to contact Mui at Mui@BikeSiliconValley.org.