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Over 5,000 E-Bike Rides Taken Since Summit Bike Share Launched One Month Ago
Program Receiving National Recognition in Bicycling Magazine
Over 5,000 E-Bike Rides Taken Since Summit Bike Share Launched
One Month Ago
Program Receiving National Recognition in Bicycling Magazine
Park City, UT (August 22, 2017) — Since its launch on July 19, over 5,000 bike trips have been taken through Summit County and Park City’s Summit Bike Share program, operated by Bewegen. Over 19,000 miles have been logged by 941 riders who have taken 5,010 trips on the electric bikes. Emissions avoided by e-bike use in just this first month are equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from four cars driven for half a year.
“Using U.S. Department of Transportation data, the combined fuel economy of cars and light trucks is 21.6 miles per gallon. Assuming the bikes effectively displaced 880 gallons of fuel, that would equate to preventing 7.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from entering the atmosphere,” said Lisa Yoder, Summit County sustainability manager.
Nine stations for the electric bikes are located throughout the Snyderville Basin and within the Park City limits. Initial results show the most active stations are Park Avenue, Newpark Plaza and the Old Town Transit Center. Six of the stations have credit card readers allowing riders paying with a credit card to pay for up to four bike rentals at a time. The convenient Summit Bike Share app gives riders the ability to purchase weekly or monthly passes, become a Go Passholder, check the status of any station in real-time, start the timer and get an alert before needing to return the e-bike, and keep track of previous rides and total miles traveled.
As this may be the first experience on an electric bicycle for locals and visitors, ensuring a safe ride is essential. Summit Bike Share offers the following guidelines:
Plan your Route
Choose the most bike-friendly route by checking the Summit Bike Share Map or App. Certain paths can be challenging, so we’ve recommended popular routes for a more comfortable ride.
Inspect your Bike
Safety first - check that your e-bike is in top shape before going for a ride:
- Check the charge on the dashboard. If the screen is blank, wake the bike up by pressing the horn.
- Adjust the seat height to the perfect fit.
- Check the tire pressure by squeezing the tires. Low or flat? Check out another bike.
- Ensure that both brakes work by giving them a squeeze.
- Riding at night? Make sure the front and back lights are flashing.
Please Wear a Helmet
While it’s not a requirement to wear a helmet, Summit Bike Share strongly encourages helmet use to reduce the probability of a head injury in the event of an accident.
Choose an appropriate type and size for your head. Take the time to adjust your helmet correctly: it should sit level on your head and not move forward or backward. You should be able to put no more than two fingers in the space between the chinstrap and your skin.
Respect the Road
Bikes need to follow the same rules as vehicles: stop at traffic lights and signs, avoid going down one-way streets, and walk your bike when on sidewalks. Ride on bike paths whenever possible. When riding on transportation trails, do not go faster than 14.5 miles per hour.
Be Careful and Respectful
- While riding in traffic, keep your distance from other vehicles.
- Try to stay three feet away from parked cars. The driver/passenger may open their door unexpectedly when exiting their vehicle.
- Make yourself visible and be confident to take the full lane when needed.
- Keep eyes out for pedestrians crossing the street.
- Pay attention to obstacles on the road: potholes, sewer grates, and railroad tracks can be dangerous when bicycling.
Be Predictable
- Don’t make sudden turns and stops, and be sure to signal your intentions with proper arm signals.
- Signal when you intend to stop, slow or turn.
- Check behind you before turning to be sure there are no oncoming vehicles.
- Make eye contact with other road and pathway users to ensure they see you and register your turning signals.
The Summit Bike Share program is attracting national attention, including a nod from Bicycling magazine. As the Bicycling article points out, “while some cities in the US, such as Baltimore, Maryland, and Birmingham, Alabama, have integrated pedal-assist bikes into their existing bike-share programs, Park City has become the first to create a fleet consisting entirely of e-bikes. Bewegen, the vendor for the bikes and docking stations, found that in Baltimore pedal-assist bikes are checked out three times more often than regular bikes, further cementing Park City's belief that their fleet should be all-electric.”
The Summit Bike Share program is supported by the “Let’s Go Summit” transportation tax initiative. Phase One of the program introduces 88 electric-assist (“pedelec”) bikes among nine stations throughout Synderville Basin and the Park City limits, with Phase Two planned to open summer 2018. The program’s pedelec bikes have a low center of gravity and high-capacity brakes, ensuring high stability, durability, and safety are appropriate for all ages and ability levels. The relaxed ergonomics and upright, semi-flatfoot riding position provide a safe, comfortable ride, and the DynaMe Propulsion motor ensures riders arrive at your destination quickly and without breaking a sweat, offering a viable alternative to driving a personal vehicle. Transportation officials from both Summit County and Park City hope the electric bike sharing option will encourage residents and visitors to make short transportation trips without use of a private vehicle.
For more information, or to sign up as a Summit Bike Share member, please visit www.summitbikeshare.com.
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Media Contacts:
Krachel Greenwood
Community and Public Affairs Coordinator
Summit County, UT
kgreenwood@summitcounty.org
801-699-4582
Linda Jager
Community Engagement Manager
Park City Municipal Corporation
linda.jager@parkcity.org
435-901-2311
Home: Energy Myths
Following are some common home energy myths that may be costing you.
1. Setting the thermostat higher or lower will heat or cool the house faster.
Many a homeowner has come home to an uncomfortable house and set the thermostat higher or lower than necessary, thinking it will warm or cool faster. In reality, a furnace or air-conditioner works at the same speed, no matter what the thermostat setting. A home will warm up to 68ºF just as quickly if the thermostat is set at 68ºF as it would if the thermostat was set at 80ºF. In such instances, energy may be wasted as the heating or cooling system continues to run after it reaches your desired set point.
2. A heating and cooling system "works harder" to reach a comfortable temperature after setback or set forward.Many people do not adjust their thermostat at night or while the home is unoccupied because of the common misconception that the heating or cooling system must "work harder" or use more energy to reheat or re-cool the house. This is not how a thermostat works. The system turns on to reach a set level and then shuts off when that level is reached. It can be likened more to a switch that shuts on and off, rather than a gas pedal that accelerates faster the more you step on it.
3. Energy efficiency and energy conservation are the same thing.
Efficiency refers to using less to perform a specific task. Examples include replacing traditional lighting with LEDs (light emitting diodes), or installing a high performance appliance. Conservation refers to reducing your need for energy through changes in behavior, such as setting the thermostat lower or riding a bike to work.
4. When an appliance is turned off, it is off.
Many appliances and electronic devices—such as coffee makers and cell phone chargers—in the home continue to use power after they have been switched off. Sometimes as much as if they were on! This is known as standby power or “phantom load.” The only way to stop the power usage by these devices is to unplug them.
5. Leaving lights, computers and appliances on uses less energy than turning them on and off.
In most cases, the small surge of power needed to start a device is much less than the power that is wasted by leaving it on when it is not needed.
6. Duct tape is the best choice for sealing ducts.
Duct tape has very low durability when used to seal ducts, according to laboratory research. On new installations duct tape will not last long without extensive surface preparation, especially in dirty or dusty locations. Over time, duct tape will fall off as the adhesive dries out and the tape starts to wrinkle. Mastic or metal-backed tapes—available at your local hardware or do-it-yourself retailer—are better choices for duct sealing.
7. Purchasing an efficient air-conditioner or furnace will automatically reduce energy bills.
This is true to some extent, but optimal savings will not be achieved unless the system is sized and installed correctly. Installing an efficient, but over-sized, system can negate much of the potential savings, while a poorly designed duct system can also have an impact on efficiency and comfort. Windows, doors, and insulation also play a factor in heating and cooling efficiency.
8. Dimming lights by 50% will cut lighting costs in half.
In reality, the relationship is not quite direct and the savings may be less than expected. Dimmed lights do use less power, but when lights are dimmed, the voltage drops and the filament becomes cooler. This causes a loss in overall efficiency.
9. Closing off vents will help to lower heating and cooling costs.
Closing or covering up vents is typically not a good way to save on energy costs. Heating and cooling systems balance their load throughout the duct system. If one vent gets closed off, it throws the system off balance. Pressure can build up in the duct work, causing leakage and less air circulating in your home. This reduces system efficiency and home comfort.