Houston BCycle Steps Up Measures to Prevent COVID-19: Closing Stations in Overcrowded Parks and Escalating Sanitization Efforts
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
HOUSTON, TX–Houston’s nonprofit-run bike share system, Houston BCycle, will remain open as an essential business during the remainder of the “Stay Home, Work Safe” order.
In March, Houston BCycle recorded 26,006 trips from 109 bike sharing stations, which is the highest monthly figure in the program’s eight-year history. While many are still using the bike share system for commutes and errands, nearly half of the 26,006 trips came from popular stations at Houston’s overcrowded parks.
In an effort to accommodate better social distancing and prevent riders from congregating at stations, Houston BCycle is closing 12 stations in popular Houston parks:
Sabine Bridge
Eleanor Tinsley Park
Spotts Park
Jackson Hill & Memorial
Lost Lake
Centennial Gardens
Hermann Park Lake Plaza
Hermann Park Bill Coats Bridge
Hermann Park/Rice U METRORail
Memorial Park Picnic Loop
Memorial Park Running Center
Stude Park
“We are closing stations in overcrowded parks, increasing sanitization measures and constantly urging our riders to wash their hands and maintain a safe distance from others, but riders must also do their part to ride safely,” said Executive Director Beth Martin. “We want to continue to serve riders for essential trips as a single-person and small group transportation and recreation option, and we need people to use bike share responsibly.”
In addition, Houston BCycle will continue to escalate its sanitization efforts in the field and shop.
“We always routinely clean our bike share equipment, but in the last three weeks we’ve stepped up those measures with focused efforts at the busiest stations,” said Director of Operations Doogie Roux. “We’re disinfecting touch points on our bikes and kiosks between 4 and 8 times per day to further accommodate safe and efficient operation of the city's bike share program in these tough times.”
Beginning next week, Houston BCycle will add another sanitization measure with weekly sprays of an EPA-approved, long-lasting Vital Oxide disinfectant at all 109 stations. This is in addition to the daily disinfections already carried out by Houston BCycle’s field technicians and sanitization crews.
Houston BCycle will continue to regularly communicate with riders about how to ride safely through COVID-19 with signs posted at all 109 stations, a COVID-19 webpage, social media updates, and texts and emails sent directly to riders after each trip.
About Houston BCycle
Houston BCycle currently provides bike share services from 109 stations and 800 bikes across Central Houston neighborhoods. The system is operated by Houston Bike Share, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide equitable access to bike share that fosters recreation mobility and personal wellness. Learn more at houstonbcycle.com.