Residents and visitors to West Palm Beach, Fla., will soon see new bikes in Brightline’s sunny yellow hue being peddled around town. BrightBike, Brightline’s integrated bikeshare program, was approved by the West Palm Beach commission at its Nov. 15 meeting. The bikeshare service is in partnership with West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Micromobility Management and Related Companies.
The program will be a fully dock-based system with pedal-powered BrightBikes placed in up to 17 locations with 170 BrightBikes throughout downtown West Palm Beach in its first phase of launch. BrightBike will be part of Brightline+, Brightline’s new door-to-door service powered by its app and supported by a fleet of Brightline branded vehicles. The new bikeshare program will be included in the multimodal trip planning and booking experience that includes train service, local transit, and ridesharing.
“Brightline is excited to add BrightBikes to our fleet of eco-friendly mobility options, making it easier than ever to access our station or the many destinations around West Palm,” said Jonathan Hopkins, vice president of mobility at Brightline. “Together with our great partners we are expanding access to transportation and encouraging people to live a car-free lifestyle.”
“We are excited to partner with Brightline, Related Companies, and the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority to bring BrightBike to the City of West Palm Beach,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “BrightBike will expand the transit options offered by the city, improve mobility, and connect users with other transportation methods. BrightBike will greatly benefit residents and visitors, while adding to the livability, safety, and sustainability of our city.”
BrightBike will be sponsored by Brightline, Related Companies and the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, with Brightline as the title sponsor. Residents can sign up for monthly unlimited-rides membership for $15, and visitors can rent a BrightBike by the hour or day. Thanks to a membership reciprocity program, BrightBike members will enjoy seamless access to Citibike in the Miami area and Citibike members will have access to BrightBike in West Palm Beach.
Bikes will feature a rugged aluminum frame that is corrosion resistant with front and rear LED lights and front basket; helmets are strongly encouraged. Over the course of the program, electric bicycles will be added, and there will be opportunities for additional station locations. Micromobility Management, started by two of the founders and operators of Citibike in Miami and Miami Beach, will operate and maintain the bikeshare system.
"We are thrilled to bring the BrightBike share program to West Palm Beach thanks to the generous support of Brightline, Related Companies and the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority,” said Colby Reese, operator of BrightBike and president of Micromobility Management LLC. “Improved mobility is a win-win for the city and all of its residents and visitors."
“For the Downtown West Palm Beach District, BrightBike is the perfect complement to what is a growing suite of mobility options,” said Raphael Clemente, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. “Bikeshare in a compact, walkable, human-scale place like our city provides not just mobility, but a fun recreational opportunity for residents and visitors as well – it’s the perfect addition.”
