Eugene celebrates PeaceHealth Rides, the city’s first bike share program

EUGENE, Ore.— PeaceHealth Rides hit the ground running today at an outdoor party to celebrate Eugene’s first bike-share program.

Community leaders, cycling enthusiasts and other interested citizens gathered at the Eugene Water & Electric Board River Edge Public Plaza to enjoy music and food while checking out some of 300 sturdy, blue PeaceHealth-branded bikes now available to rent from 35 kiosks around the city. Many jumped at the chance to take a “celebration spin” along the nearby river path.

“Today, I represent one of the many community partners who were instrumental in helping to deliver the vision of a public bike share system,” Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis said. “We are all thrilled to have PeaceHealth as the title sponsor of PeaceHealth Rides because they are an organization that cares as deeply about the health and livability of our community as we do.”

Bike share is an innovative transportation alternative to cars and buses. For a modest charge—$1 for 15 minutes or $15 a month for most users—riders can pick up and drop off bicycles for one-way trips. Although bicycles can be locked to any existing bike rack within the system area, PeaceHealth Rides stations are located near high-traffic businesses, restaurants, health-care facilities, parks and other popular destinations.

It’s a healthy, environmentally friendly and congestion-reducing transportation alternative that cities around the world are embracing. Several Northwest cities, including Portland and Boise, have incorporated bike share systems.

“Promoting personal and community health is one of the foundations of our PeaceHealth Mission, and we can’t think of an easier and more enjoyable way to build muscle, improve balance and coordination, decrease stress and boost cardiovascular fitness than a daily spin on a PeaceHealth Rides bike,” said Susan Blane, PeaceHealth Oregon director of community health. “This program also offers a new transportation option to community members who struggle to access health care and other social services. We want everyone in the community to be able to experience the health benefits, utility and joy of bike share, without price being a barrier.”

Eugene’s 35 stations are clustered in the downtown core, Whiteaker neighborhood and University of Oregon campus (including PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District). There’s also a standalone station at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, intended for use by hospital patients, visitors and caregivers.

Working with our partners and a variety of community organizations, PeaceHealth will be offering both subsidized and reduced fare options to those in need. PeaceHealth Rides is also working to incorporate adaptive rental bikes into the fleet to ensure the program is ADA accessible.

“Eugene is so ready to embrace this program,” said Lindsey Hayward, general manager for PeaceHealth Rides, which is operated by JUMP Bikes under a contract with the city. “PeaceHealth Rides is the culmination of years of planning and research, and we’re confident it will be successful. And we’re so excited to be partnering with a health-care organization that’s committed to the health and wellness of all citizens.”

Speakers at today’s Launch Party were:

• Mayor Lucy Vinis, city of Eugene
• Susan Blane, director of community health, PeaceHealth
• Paul Esselstyn, PeaceHealth heart patient
• Kris Winter, associate vice president and dean of students, University of Oregon
• Carl Yeh, board member, Lane Transit District Board of Directors

To learn more about PeaceHealth Rides, including cost, rental instructions and station locations, visit www.peacehealthrides.com

About PeaceHealth Rides

PeaceHealth Rides is a form of active transportation where users can pick up and drop off publicly available bicycles for one-way trips across the city.  Bike share conveniently and affordably complements other forms of transit, keeping you healthy and on the go. The bike share program is a partnership with the City of Eugene, University of Oregon, Lane Transit District, Social Bicycles by JUMP Bikes and title sponsor PeaceHealth. For more information, visit https://www.peacehealthrides.com or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PeaceHealthRides.

About PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission.