BikeLNK Celebrates 5 Years in Lincoln

Bike Share in the Lincoln Community, by the Lincoln Community

by Logan Spackman

BikeLNK bikes landed on the streets of Lincoln in 2018 through the combined efforts of University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and administration and Lincoln community leaders committed to bringing this innovative transportation option to the capital city. Brought to Lincoln as part of a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant awarded to the City of Lincoln, BikeLNK is managed through partnership between the City of Lincoln which owns the equipment and the 501c3 nonprofit operator ROAM, Nebraska’s premier active transportation organization.

Since the first tires hit the ground BikeLNK has grown to a system of 21 docking stations whose network extends across Downtown Lincoln, the Historic Haymarket and Railyard districts, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campuses. With over 120 bikes offered year-round (including pedal-assist ebike models) BikeLNK has already supported 170,000 bike trips in Lincoln. Users of BikeLNK have traveled nearly 400,000 miles in total with an estimated carbon offset of 370,000 lbs. 

In addition to the thousands of bike trips supported annually, BikeLNK has forged partnerships within the Lincoln community to increase education and equitable access to bike share. Through collaborations with entities such as Lincoln City Libraries, Community Health Endowment of Lincoln, and Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, BikeLNK is committed to reducing barriers to active, adaptable, and sustainable transportation. In 2023, BikeLNK was awarded a Community Challenge grant from AARP Livable Communities and AARP Nebraska for programming designed to educate the general public—particularly Lincoln’s aging adults—about the many benefits of locally available bike share. Every trip taken by bike share is an opportunity to connect to the people and places that define a city, and the impact of bike share in Lincoln continues to grow.

Experiencing Lincoln by bike provides unique access to interact with and experience the City’s attractions and great local businesses. And BikeLNK is just as flexible and user-friendly as Lincoln itself. Access passes can be purchased at BikeLNK.com, any of BikeLNK’s 21 station kiosks, or directly on the BCycle mobile app. Capital Cruiser and Visiting Voyager passes may appeal to visitors who desire short-term BikeLNK access for either one- or three-day periods, while Monthly and Aluminum Access memberships offer long-term options for those ready to integrate bike share into their daily routine. All bike trips under one hour are covered by BikeLNK access passes, with rides longer than an hour costing extra. Bike share truly is as easy as riding a bike.

In April 2023 BikeLNK officially celebrates five years in Lincoln. That is five years of bike share supporting Lincoln residents’ and visitors’ steps forward in active living, transportation accessibility, and environmental sustainability. BikeLNK’s ongoing impact is only achievable with dedicated support from the community of people and organizations it serves. For a full list of the current organizations that help make BikeLNK possible visit BikeLNK.com. 

Each trip with bike share transforms those riding and their community. Here’s to many more—pedal on, Lincoln!