Sometime in June, 100 motorized bikes from the bike share company Gotcha will be docked in 12-15 stations in North Little Rock, divided between the four wards.
Isaac Henry, NLR’s Fit 2 Live coordinator for health and fitness programs, described the Gotcha bike share similar as similar to Little Rock’s Lyme scooter program: Riders will download an app to access the bikes and the bikes will be fitted with GPS. Henry said the cost to ride had not been firmed up but would be “reasonable.”
Gotcha’s site planners were in the city last week working with city engineers, planners and the public works department to determine the best places to put the docks. There will certainly be more than one in Argenta, including on the River Trail. Henry said the city will have to pass an ordinance to allow the installation of the docking stations, some of which may be on private property.
Gotcha bikes will not cost the city anything, and the company will hire a local manager. The company was chosen after several interviews with other bike-share programs, Henry said. The contract is for one year.
The bikes will have an electrical assist for riding up hills. The city and Gotcha strongly recommend helmets, but will not require them. (Motorcycle riders are not required to wear helmets in Arkansas.)
Henry said the bikes will be a “great option for employees and citizens” for both work and simple travel. “Clean air, healthy living is what the city of Little Rock is all about.” He said city employees will receive incentives to ride; “we already have incentives like that as well.”