Our electric pedal-assist bikes have been out in the Heartland B-cycle system for a month and it's been pretty amazing! We've had people contacting us from day one to tell us how much they loved riding the e-bikes but the numbers from the past month really do speak for themselves. Our trips have been up by 45% since the launch of the bikes and May was the best month yet in Heartland B-cycle's almost 8 year history with 3,953 trips! 48% of the trips taken in May were taken by our e-bikes!

Now that the bikes have been out in our system for a month, here's a little primer for those of you who haven't yet tried out our e-bikes yet (or you've tried them at an event but haven't yet taken the leap to check one out on your own)!

Why ride an e-bike?

If you've had a chance to ride one of our e-bikes you know how much fun they are. That little extra boost of support from the motor makes hills a breeze and brings a smile to your face. The built in motor matches your power for the smooth & easy ride. Yes, you still need to pedal but exercise is good for you! Plus, pedaling is part of the fun!

Besides the fun factor, they're the perfect bikes for commuting! They make long trips a breeze and you'll be saying "hills? what hills?" in no time when riding one of our e-bikes. If you haven't started bike commuting because you're worried about showing up at your destination to sweaty, these bikes cut down the sweat factor! We can't promise that you'll arrive sweat free on a 100 degree day but e-bikes do cut down the effort and therefore the sweat.

When you take an e-bike for a ride instead of hopping in your car, you are helping reduce your carbon footprint and getting in some exercise at the same time! Studies have shown that just a little moderate exercise every day can do wonders for your health, getting it done on your commute into work makes it easy to fit into your busy schedule. 

Plus, have we mentioned that they're fun? Seriously, our e-bikes are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face! 

How do I find an e-bike?

Okay, so you're convinced to try these e-bike things out but now you need to know how to find them! There are a few ways you can locate our e-bikes in the Heartland B-cycle system- the main page of our website and the BCycle App. 

The front page of our website has a live station map, the little lightning bolts on a station signal that there are e-bikes at that station. Click on the station to see how many e-bikes and classic bikes there are at the station. The pop up will also let you know how many docks are available at the station so you can plan your trip before you head out and ensure there will be an open dock for you when you arrive at your destination.

You can also find a live station map on the BCycle App which is available for iOS and Android phones. Similar to the website map, the lightning bolt icons signal that there are e-bikes available at a station. Tap the station to see how many bikes are available. If you are logged into the app with your Heartland B-cycle Membership, you can check out a bike right on the app! Just put in the dock number of the bike you want and it will release.

How do I ride an e-bike?

Just like a regular bike of course! You just need to make sure you turn the power on by pressing the power button above the small screen located on the left handlebar. When you turn the screen on you can see how much battery life is left and it will tell you your speed while you're riding. Our bikes only assist you up to 17 miles per hour, so if you can manage to get one going that fast you're on your own after that! 

Each bike has three gears, the shifter is located on the right handlebar. The left handlebar has a bell that you can use to signal to people as you pass by or say hi to a friend! All bikes have front and rear lights that are powered by the movement of your wheels and always on as long as your wheels are moving. Once you start pedaling the motor will kick on to give you the perfect amount of boost. Make sure to adjust the seat height before you right for the most comfortable riding experience. 

Now you know why you should ride, how to find an e-bike, and how to get riding- we hope to see you out there enjoying our electric pedal-assist bikes! We'd love to see how much fun you're having, post on social with #heartlandbcycle and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter for system updates!

After a very cold and very snowy Winter, Spring is finally here! Warmer temperatures are in the forecast and we're crossing our fingers for sunny skies. After such a long winter, we're all itching to get outside and ride so we're giving you the chance to get riding for FREE!

Sign up for a Monthly Membership with the promo code SPRING19 on our website or the BCycle App and get your first month absolutely free! That's a month of unlimited 1-hour trips at no cost to you (each additional hour of riding costs $4, check out our Rates and FAQ for more info). Check your bike out at any Heartland B-cycle location & return it to any other station in our system! We now have over 70 locations and you can find them all on our website or on the BCycle App. 

A free month of Heartland B-cycle is the perfect way to enjoy Spring or join in on some fun cycling challenges! A month of bike share can help you take part in the April 30 Days of Biking Challenge or get some practice in for National Bike to Work Week in May. There are so many reasons to get biking and Heartland B-cycle wants to help you get started for free!

Already have a Heartland B-cycle membership? This is the perfect way to get a friend riding with you! Because as we all know, biking is always better with friends! So, join today (or send this deal to a friend!) with the promo code SPRING19 and get riding! This promo is valid until May 8, 2019.

Sign Up Now

Spring has finally arrived Heartland B-cycle is gearing up to have a busy and fun year of bike share! Warmer weather and longer days means more great days to ride our bikes. Heartland B-cycle has a lot of exciting projects this year and we're looking for people to help us get the the word out about bike share in the Omaha Metro! We're hiring Brand Ambassadors to help us spread the bike share love through a variety of community outreach efforts. We're looking for highly motivated and community oriented individuals to help us out!

Check out the job description below and if this seems like something you'd love please submit a letter of interest and resume plus list of names and contact information for appropriate references with the subject line “Heartland B-cycle Ambassador” to jobs@heartlandbikeshare.org.

Please note that job descriptions at HBS are a starting point for a position and are considered fluid at all times.

Position: Heartland B-cycle Brand Ambassador- Seasonal (April to September)
Type: Contractor Status, Part Time (5-10 hours per week)
Location: Omaha, NE
Pay: Stipend of $300 / month
Start Date: Immediately
Reports to: Marketing & Memberships Manager

Company

Heartland Bike Share is a 501c3 non-profit organization that exists for the development, promotion, and operation of bike sharing programs throughout the Heartland region for the benefit of the general public, aimed at promoting health and quality of life as well as mitigating climate change and promoting the use of sustainable forms of transportation. Heartland Bike Share is hiring for Heartland B-cycle a bike share system with 70 stations and 199 bicycles distributed throughout Omaha.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Description

Heartland Bike Share seeks to build a sales and promotion team for events throughout Omaha’s Heartland B-cycle bike share service area. Individuals in this role will help sell passes, encourage bike share trips, promote the Heartland B-cycle brand, and be an advocate for bike share as a viable option for transit and recreation for the Omaha Metro.

This season, Heartland B-cycle Brand Ambassadors will have a particular focus on introducing the Omaha community to our new electric pedal-assist bikes. This would require being comfortable riding and demonstrating the electric pedal-assist bikes.

Heartland B-cycle Brand Ambassadors are knowledgeable, creative, sales driven, and customer service-oriented individuals. Heartland B-cycle Brand Ambassadors represent the Heartland B-cycle brand and are expected to help residents and tourists sign up for the Heartland pass that best meets their needs. Applicants must be team players, available to work weekends, have experience with outreach, and a willingness to learn and grow. Spanish and Arabic speakers are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Attend/host events and perform any of the following:

  • Set up booth activation with team and maintain quality standards

  • Engage and network with potential customers in the community

  • Promote and educate customers on how Heartland B-cycle works

  • Assist people in signing up for Heartland B-cycle passes

  • Demonstrate bike features, check in/out procedures, and kiosk sign-up to potential customers

  • Lead demo rides of electric pedal-assist bikes and educate customers on how they work

• Work with Marketing team to create and manage partnerships

• Track sales efforts during and after events for reporting

• Conduct on-street bike corral at stations to support user demand

• Distribute promotional materials throughout Omaha neighborhoods, school campuses, and public events

• Generate ideas and help create content for social media, newsletter, and website based on field experiences

• Co-lead and facilitate Heartland B-cycle group rides for community partners

• Assist with inventory management and organization of marketing materials

• Other duties as assigned

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements

• Outgoing, friendly, and highly personable

• Experience working with diverse populations

• Capacity to problem solve and remain calm under pressure

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines

• Ability to write detailed notes describing outreach outputs and outcomes

• Capacity to explain and conduct a sales pitch to diverse audiences

• Willingness to travel to different neighborhoods

• Ability to use/learn computer tools for scheduling and tracking

• Willingness to conduct surveys and collect contact information

• Available to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays

• Willingness to work in inclement weather conditions as needed

• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred

Physical Requirements and Special Demands

• Expected to work an average of 5 to 10 hours a week, based on event schedule and operational needs

• Ability to bend, stoop, and lift up to 50 pounds

• Comfort with riding a bicycle in the city (or a willingness to learn)

• Weekend availability is required

• Monthly team meetings as scheduled

Application info

Please submit a letter of interest and resume plus list of names and contact information for appropriate references with the subject line “Heartland B-cycle Ambassador” to jobs@heartlandbikeshare.org.

Are you a fair weather bike commuter? Thought about bike commuting but haven't tried it yet? International Winter Bike to Work day is Friday, February 8th this year and Heartland B-cycle wants to help you take part! On Winter Bike to Work Day you can get a FREE FUN! Pass (24 hours of unlimited 1-hour trips) at any Heartland B-cycle kiosk with promo code 92453. 

To prepare yourself, plan your route ahead of time! You can find all of our stations right here on our website or on the BCycle App. If you download the BCycle App it can help you find stations and help you navigate where you want to go. You can also used MAPAs Metro Area Bike Map which you can find at http://bikemap.mapacog.org/. Their map not only helps you find bike-friendly routes but shows all of the Heartland B-cycle stations as well!

Worried about staying warm? It's all about layers. Make sure to wear multiple layers to help trap heat and cover any exposed skin. We also recommend eye protection and remembering to wear your helmet! For more tips, you can check out People For Bike's Winter Bike Commuting Basics.

Winter Bike to Work Day can be a fun challenge and potentially kick start a new habit that's great your health and the environment! We hope to see you out there riding!

In 2018 Heartland B-cycle doubled our size and now have 70 stations around the Omaha Metro. It was a big year for us but 2019 is going to be even bigger with the implementation of our new BCycle Electric bikes later this year! To celebrate, we decided to give 50% off Annual Heartland Passes (that's just $40 for a year of unlimited 1-hour trips) in the month of January and now we've extended the offer through February 8th!

All you have to do to get this amazing deal is to use the promo code NEWYEAR19 on the Heartland BCycle Website or the BCycle Mobile App when signing up for an Annual Heartland Pass. The promo code will apply our 50% discount and your total at check out will be just $40! If you are already a Heartland B-cycle member, you can still take advantage of this offer as the membership will stack onto your current membership and start when your current one expires. 

You don't want to miss all the exciting things in store for Heartland B-cycle this year! Get ready for an another amazing year for active transportation in the Metro and grab your Annual Heartland Pass today because this offer does end February 8, 2019.