Adam McIntire is launching an innovative bike rental concept in Owensboro this weekend called Boro Bikes. All you need is a credit card to swipe at the kiosk and you could be off and rolling.
There are two bike rental stations. One will be downtown near the Owensboro Convention Center and another will be located on the Greenbelt next to Horse Fork Creek Park.
McIntire grew up in South Bend, Indiana, but has lived in Owensboro the past three years. The idea for Boro Bikes was born on a trip to Chicago.
“I saw the bike kiosks there and I thought, that could work in Owensboro. It really fits in well with the downtown development,” McIntire said.
Boro Bikes has been a year in the making. The bikes have been on display in the Convention Center lobby, but the docking stations took a while because they had to be custom made and just arrived this week.
“The City of Owensboro and Daviess County have been a huge help in getting these stations in place. They seem genuinely excited to have another way to get people out and active around town,” McIntire said.
The bikes
The bikes were ordered from a company in Texas because they are made especially for this purpose. Features include:
- Step-through frame with a low bar so it’s easy to step onto and off the bike
- A basket on the back to carry small items with side panels available for local advertising
- Single speed
- Solid rubber tires for easy maintenance and a dependable ride
- Easily adjustable seat to fit any rider
Stations
Bike stations are self-serve. Features include:
- Credit/debit machine
- Solar powered
- Touch screen kiosk
- Wireless 3G
- The standard rate for a Boro Bikes rental is $5 per hour.
Look for these bikes downtown or on the Greenbelt this weekend. Follow them on Facebook.
