NEW ORLEANS — A new era of Blue Bikes has hit the streets of New Orleans.
New electronic "JUMP" bikes provide a boost every time riders pedal and can get up to 20 mph, the city's bicycle speed limit. Starting Thursday, a fleet of 900 of these motorized bicycles will replace the current fleet of 700 regular bicycles that first came to New Orleans in 2017.
The electric bikes are aimed to make the city's bicycle sharing system more accessible to people with disabilities, the company says, and riders can rent the bikes through the Uber app or directly through the JUMP mobile app.
The introduction of the new e-bike fleet comes as the Blue Bike system prepares to expand to more neighborhoods in the coming months, including the Seventh Ward, Central City, the West Bank, Gert Town, Carrollton, Broadmoor, Riverbend and Uptown, a spokesperson says.
Currently, dozens of Blue Bike racks, or "hubs," are clustered in the Garden District, CBD, French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater and Mid-City.
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The new electronic bikes will cost an increased 25 cents per minute to use, up from 10 cents per minute for the old bicycles. There are also monthly and yearly payment plans available.
JUMP is the "bikeshare" company that operates the Blue Bike system, which was met with some pushback when it came to New Orleans in December 2017 but has since become a common sight around the city. Uber purhcased JUMP in 2019.
For more information on payment plans, click here.
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