Nice Ride to add third bike rental station in northwest Rochester

Nice Ride Rochester is making its way down the trail.

This week, 125 Live announced it is partnering with the nonprofit bicycle program to add a rental station at its facility on Elton Hills Drive in northwest Rochester. It will be Nice Ride's third rental location in Rochester, and the first outside of downtown. (The other two locations are Peace Plaza and the People's Food Co-op.)

Kim Edens, the local manager of the Nice Ride program, said 125 Live makes an ideal location for expansion given its proximity to the trail system. There are also opportunities to organize group rides and bike safety classes for members, she said.

"Nice Ride is thriving in its first full season," said Edens. "Bike rentals at the downtown locations are seeing daily and steady rentals averaging 200-rental hours per month."

In celebration of the partnership, the organizations will hold a free event at 125 Live on Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include family bike rides along the Zumbro River trail, a food truck roundup, bike obstacle courses, bike safety demonstrations, make and take cyclecentric art projects, live music, the Mobile Rec Trailer from Parks and Recreation Rochester and post-ride family yoga.

City: Stay off the sidewalks

If you have been downtown lately, you may have noticed these new markings painted on the sidewalks.

Photo by Med City Beat

That's because the Rochester City Council recently passed an ordinance prohibiting cyclists from riding on sidewalks. Cyclists are required to walk their bikes on sidewalks or ride their bicycle in the street when in the downtown district. Violations are subject to a $75 fine, plus the associated court costs.

The move is designed to make sidewalks safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. Nearly half of all bicycle-car collisions take place in intersections with bikes riding off of sidewalks into the street. City officials says riders are safest when bikes are as visible as possible, which means sharing the road.

Cover photo by Med City Beat