Yesterday we sent a note to all annual and monthly B-cycle members that we would be upgrading our credit card readers today.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Please go online and update your credit card information. If you don’t do this, your B-Card and BCycle app will still work to check out a bike, but your credit card will not work at the kiosk to check out a bike on your membership. For assistance with this, just follow these steps:

• Log in to your account using username and password

• Click on the My Profile tab, then click Edit under Credit Card Information

• Re-enter valid credit card information (it can be the same card you used previously, as long as it is not expired).

• Click SAVE and log out.

**Please note, the new credit card system requires that your address matches the billing address for your card exactly. If you get an error when updating your credit card information please double check that your address matches the billing address for that card exactly.

2. You will still be able to use your B-Card at the dock without interruption. If you are missing your B-Card, please call us at 402-957-2453 to request a new card – free of charge for a limited time.

Why are we doing this?

• To keep up to date with ongoing credit card processing requirements

What does this mean for you?

1. The Heartland B-cycle system will work for you just as it always has.

2. For a short time, members from other systems will not be able to access their membership in Omaha through reciprocity (B-Connected).

3. Your B-card and BCycle App will continue to work in the other BCycle cities which participate in B-Connected, however, there will be some times where reciprocity in other cities will be temporarily disabled during their upgrades (like this one).

Thank you for your patience as we keep Heartland B-cycle up to date and as secure as possible.

You already know that you can check out a bike with your B-card or by using your credit card/phone number at the kiosk. But did you know that you can also use the BCycle App to get riding? The BCycle App is available on both iPhone and Android and can make your Heartland B-cycle check out process easier than ever!

Just search for the BCycle App, the logo is a white B with a blue background. If you have an existing membership, just sign in with your credentials. If you don’t have a membership, don’t worry, you can buy one right on the app! Once you give the app access to your location it will confirm that you are in the Heartland B-cycle system. From there, log in or buy your membership by clicking the three horizontal lines on the upper left hand side of the screen.

Heartland B-cycle experienced record ridership during the 2015 College World Series, continuing a trend of record ridership during the CWS. From June 12th through June 24th, 1459 trips were taken by B-cycles throughout the Metro area for an average of 112 trips per day. That is more trips than were taken in all of 2011 or 2012. More trips were taken in the 13 day period than any month in the program's history except for May of 2015. With this increased ridership Heartland B-cycle set new records for:

Best day ever: 189 trips on Saturday 6/13

Best weekday ever: 141 trips on Wednesday 6/17

Best weekend ever: 345 trips taken Saturday 6/12 – Sunday 6/13

Best three day period: 415 trips taken Friday 6/19 through Sunday 6/21

Most days in a row over 100 trips: 5 days from 6/19 through 6/23.

“The College World Series always gets the best out of our bike sharing program,” said Ben Turner, Heartland B-cycle Program Director. “Between visitors seeking an exciting way to see Omaha, and locals looking for a way to beat traffic, people turn to bike sharing during the CWS. Even with our record ridership we have capacity to grow and serve even more people in the months and years to come!”

Additionally, dozens of people tried out bike sharing for the first time by parking at Midtown Crossing, picking up free passes, and riding to College World Series games.

“We believe programs like the partnership with Midtown Crossing are vital to encouraging a park-once culture in Omaha,” said Turner. "Parking at Midtown Crossing and riding to the games is a great way for people to enjoy all Midtown Crossing has to offer and enjoy physical activity, all while saving time and parking headaches.”

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Heartland B-cycle, a program of Live Well Omaha, is the Omaha metro areas bike sharing system with 31 stations and 152 bikes throughout Omaha and Council Bluffs. The iconic blue bikes feature lights, a built-in bike lock, and a handlebar basket to carry riders' belongings. For more information, visit http://heartland.bcycle.com/ Heartland B-cycle has received funding from: Nebraska Environmental Trust; Peter Kiewit Foundation; Sherwood Foundation; Blue Cross Blue Shield Nebraska; Iowa West Foundation; CHI Health; The Wellmark Foundation; Union Pacific; University of Nebraska, Omaha; National Park Service: Lewis & Clark Historic Trails and RTCA; Back to the River, LLC; Community Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW), PayPal; and ConAgra Foods.

Our 31 stations are your ticket to freedom during the CWS!

Heartland B-cycle has partnered with four parking facilities* to offer a discount to help B-cycle users park and ride all day. Each parking facility will have a coupon good for a discount on the $6 FUN! Passes purchased by your party.

List of Parking Locations and Discount Coupon Amount:

Midtown Crossing: $6 Coupon pick up: Delice (3201 Farnam St #6112). Nearest B-cycle station: Midtown Crossing: 32nd & Farnam

Ameristar: $1 Coupon pick up: Ameristar front desk (2200 River Rd). Nearest B-cycle station: Ameristar

10th & Jackson Garage: $1 Coupon pick up: Parking lot attendant. Nearest B-cycle station: 11th & Jackson

13th & Capitol Garage: $1 Coupon pick up: Parking lot attendants. Nearest B-cycle stations: 10th & Dodge or 14th & Douglas

Stations within 2 blocks of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha:

10th & Cass
14th & Fahey
1516 Cuming St

*Parking rates vary by location. 

By this time next week we will have 31 stations and 152 bikes in our system; not bad for a system that had 8 stations and 43 bikes this time last year. With this expanded network comes more opportunities to navigate our city by bicycle.  As part of the changes to our system, Heartland B-cycle will be changing our membership pricing and structure. To make accessing the system easier than ever before, we have merged our Annual and Monthly passes into the Heartland Pass.

The new membership will have all of the benefits of being an Annual Member, but will offer two different payment options. Starting today you will be able to pay for a Heartland Pass in two ways: monthly for $10/month or yearly to save $40. All passholders will be able to check out a bike directly from the dock with their B-card.

The monthly payment option is new for Heartland B-cycle. Members who select monthly pay will have their account automatically billed each month and can cancel or reactivate at any time. We wanted to offer an easy, low-cost, affordable way for people to become a Heartland B-cycle member. Our new monthly pay membership is for perfect for anyone who is curious about B-cycle or wants to pay for their membership over time instead of all at once.