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Streetsblog LA

Metro Bike Share Kicks-Off, System Open In Downtown L.A.

9:11 AM PDT on July 8, 2016

Metro board chair John Fasana celebrates the arrival of Metro Bike Share. All photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.
Metro board chair John Fasana celebrates the arrival of Metro Bike Share. All photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.

This morning a crowd of over a thousand people gathered to celebrate the opening of Los Angeles' newest transportation system: Metro Bike Share. The system's opening festivities took place at Grand Park. It featured music, speakers, and a ceremonial ride where cyclists rode bike-share bikes to distribute them to stations throughout downtown L.A.

The Metro Bike Share system includes just over a thousand bikes at about 65 docking stations throughout downtown Los Angeles, from Union Station to the Arts District to Staples Center to L.A. Trade Tech College to Chinatown. View a dynamic map of the system here or find it on the Metro Bike Share app.

Right now through the end of July, the system is open to members only. To become a member sign-up online at Metro Bike Share. As of August 1, the system will be fully open to preregistered members and walk-ups.

Photos of today's kick-off follow after the jump.

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Metro bikes awaiting distribution this morning
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County Supervisor and Metro Boardmember Hilda Solis welcomes Metro Bike Share
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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti encourages Angelenos to use bike-share to experience downtown L.A.
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Volunteers gathered in groups to pedal bikes to docking stations throughout downtown. This group was lead by council deputy and South L.A. cycling activist John Jones III (right), and included Department of City Planning staffers Claire Bowin (white shirt) and David Somers (right of Bowin.)
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It felt something like CicLAvia, with bike-share riders occupying Main Street including its green bike lane
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Bike-share riders passing downtown L.A.'s Spring Arcade Building
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Bike-share is an ideal way to take in all that downtown L.A. has to offer
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At the end of the ride, the City Planning Department's David Somers docks his bike in the Fashion District
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Metro Bike Share crews were still installing new stations; this one is on 7th Street in the Jewelry District.

See earlier SBLA coverage for Metro Bike Share costs, how to use it, and more details. Have you tried out the new bike-share system? What did you think?

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