LAKELAND, FL and CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwired - Dec 18, 2015) - Zagster and the City of Lakeland have partnered to bring Swan City Cycles -- a public bike sharing program -- to Lakeland, Florida. The program was inaugurated with a dedication ceremony on Friday, December 18th at 11 a.m. at the Munn Park location in downtown Lakeland. Mayor Howard Wiggs, the Lakeland City Commission, as well as Zagster representatives were in attendance to introduce the bike share program to the community.
The Lakeland program includes 35 cruiser bikes that are available at seven locations around the City for riders to checkout for on-demand, local trips. Anybody can ride by purchasing a day pass or joining with a monthly or annual membership. Rides for members are free for up to an hour and a half, then $3 per hour after. An annual membership can be purchased for $25 and a monthly membership for $15.
The program is made possible by sponsorship from the City of Lakeland's Community Redevelopment Authority, Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, as well as: Lakeland Vision, Citrus Connection, Polk Museum of Art, Lake Morton Neighborhood Association, First United Methodist and Florida Southern College.
"All of us who have supported Swan City Cycles understand that having a bike sharing system is a sign of a vibrant, healthy and engaged community," said Julie Townsend, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. "We're committed to making Lakeland a great place to live, visit and work, and the addition of bike sharing is a great new addition to our vibrant downtown."
"This public-private partnership is a great model for bringing bike sharing to communities like Lakeland," said Timothy Ericson, co-founder and CEO of Zagster. "Our partnership model enables cities like Lakeland to have the amenities of major metropolitan areas without the cost and complexity."
Riders can join the bike share program by following the instructions on the Zagster Mobile App, available for iPhone and Android, or online at http://zagster.com/lakeland . To use the Mobile App, riders simply enter the unique ID of the bike they wish to use and an access code for the lock box is provided. Riders can use the code throughout the duration of their rental to lock and unlock the bike anywhere along their trip. Once the bike is returned to any of the seven Swan City Cycles locations, the touch of a button ends the rental and releases the bike for the next rider.
Zagster features the Breezer Uptown, an award-winning bike known for its lightweight yet durable construction, specifically designed for cruising in comfort. All bikes come with spacious baskets perfect for carrying groceries, take out or other personal belongings. With an attached flexible lock, riders can park their bikes wherever they want during their trips, allowing for convenience and flexibility.
About Zagster Founded in Philadelphia in 2007 and now headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Zagster is the leading provider of bike sharing systems across the United States. Zagster is uniquely focused on working with communities across North America to make bike sharing programs available to residents, employees, students and visitors. A unique and highly efficient model allows Zagster to offer services in areas that traditional metropolitan bike sharing system providers can't reach.
More information about Zagster's programs and impact is available at www.zagster.com .
Media Contact: John Williams Scoville PR for Zagster 206-625-0075 Email Contact
