Salina bike sharing program focuses on user friendly experience
KANcycle, a bike sharing program through OCCK Transportation, has updated its system to be more user-friendly via a mobile app.
The new offering enables riders to plan a multimodal trip and unlock a bike in just a few steps in the Transit app.
As a worldwide service, the Transit app allows users to navigate public transit with accurate real-time predictions, trip planning, step-by-step navigation and convenient payments. Now, Salina’s local bike sharing program can be viewed and accessed through the app.
By bringing these services together, KANcycle and OCCK Transportation are aiming to create a resource that brings all local mobility options together in one place. Overall, the goal is to be user friendly and convenient for people who use public transportation.
“We are focused on enhancing our customers’ experiences, including providing new, convenient tools that make it easier to choose and use KANcycle, CityGo, 81 Connection, and all available public transit options,” said Michelle Griffin, Mobility Manager for North Central Kansas.
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Public transit as recreation
Transit integrates other transport options beyond local bus routes, including bike sharing, scooters, carsharing and ridehail, so users can decide for themselves the best way to get where they are going.
Salina users can search for local CityGo bus information, including routes and stops, local carsharing and bike sharing locations.
KANcycle services are located in communities across north central Kansas beyond Salina, including Minneapolis, Concordia, Belleville, Mankato, Beloit, Lincoln, and Ellsworth.
The program aims to provide affordable access to bicycles as an enjoyable, healthy and eco-friendly means of transportation and recreation.
Griffin said bike sharing has grown in local popularity the last three years. When it first launched in Salina in 2019, the North Central Kansas Transit District saw a big interest and a lot of riders. Then in the pandemic, things slowed down a bit.
At the end of October, there were more than 2,200 rides recorded for the year in all eight counties the bikeshare program is offered. At the end of 2021, a total of 2,600 rides were recorded for the year.
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Each year in May, the NCKTD celebrates national bike month with free rides in the bike sharing program throughout entire month as a way to promote using the public transit options.
“We encourage people to try things they have never done before, and when it comes to transit, that can mean how easy it is and see the benefits to it,” Griffin said.
OCCK announces continuation of youth winter bus pass
OCCK Transportation announced this week it will once again offer the CityGo “Get On & Go” program for Salina area youth.
Youth ages 7-18 will be able to purchase a Get On & Go Winter Youth Bus Pass for $10. The pass will be good for unlimited rides on Salina CityGo from Dec.1 to Feb. 28, 2022. Youth must show drivers their “Get On & Go” pass when they board the buses.
People can purchase the Get On & Go pass online starting Nov. 17, 2022 at www.salinacitygo.com, in person at 340 North Santa Fe Avenue and at the OCCK Corporate Office at 1710 West Schilling Road.
The youth pass will also be available digitally in the Token Transit app. All OCCK Transportation services have a digital fare option.
“We try to make it as easy as possible for people,” Griffin said. “And we encourage people to check out the transit app – it’s good for Salina and good for communities across the world. We are excited that in Salina, here in the Midwest, we are able to participate in something that is a worldwide service.”
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina bike sharing program revamps user experience through mobile app
