Free Bay Wheels memberships for Healthcare Workers

Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Lyft announce free Bay Wheels memberships for Bay Area healthcare workers

Healthcare employers should email herobikes@lyft.com to enroll their staff in this new program.

Today, officials from Lyft and the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) announced an emergency program which will provide essential healthcare workers in the Bay Area with free 30-day Bay Wheels memberships, plus waived ebike surcharges. Lyft operates Bay Wheels, which provides bikeshare in the five Bay Area cities of Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Berkeley, and Emeryville.

Essential healthcare workers can enroll now through April 30th for unlimited 45-minute trips on both classic pedal bikes and ebikes for 30 days. There’s no cost to hospitals or their employees to enroll, and the free membership will not auto-renew into a paid membership.

Matt Nichols, the MTC’s Interim Bikeshare Coordinator, said “With approximately 5,000 pedal bikes and 4,500 ebikes across the Bay Wheels system in the region, these free rides could help healthcare workers complete critical short trips to work.”

“We are grateful to companies like Lyft who are working to ease the lives of our residents who serve on the front lines of this pandemic,” said Sam Liccardo, Mayor of San Jose, and also an MTC Commissioner. “This program will allow for our medical personnel in the Bay Area to make the essential trip to work — at no cost — during the shelter in place, where they can continue their life-saving work.”

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín added, “I am incredibly thankful for our healthcare workers who have selflessly put themselves on the front lines to protect our community. I commend Lyft for recognizing their contributions and making it easier for them to commute to work.”

“We are pleased to be working with Lyft to reach out to healthcare employers and employees so that those who want can use shared bikes to carry out their invaluable work,” City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) Director Ryan Russo said.

“Lyft is committed to increasing transportation access to those who need it most,” said Caroline Samponaro, Head of Micromobility Policy at Lyft. “As part of our LyftUp efforts nationwide, this program will provide free 30-day Bay Wheels memberships to Bay Area residents working on the frontlines against COVID-19. We are all grateful to them and appreciate the efforts of our city government partners in ensuring bikeshare remains accessible, especially for those making essential trips during this unprecedented time.”

Bay Wheels Cleaning Enhanced in response to COVID-19

Bay Wheels disinfects all high-contact surfaces on bikes each time they arrive in their depot. Staff wear gloves when handling bikes in the depot and at valet stations, and high-contact surfaces on vans used to transport vehicles are also disinfected at the start of each shift.

Additional program details:

• Lyft is rolling out similar programs in their bikeshare operations in Boston, Chicago, and New York City.
• After the initial period, Lyft will work with its partners to determine ridership needs and the best ways to support the program further.
• Eligible healthcare employees can enroll anytime through April 30th for a 30-day Bay Wheels membership for free 45 minute rides on both classic bikes and ebikes.
• Eligible employees will be required to set up an account and enter their credit card to cover lost bike fees, extra time fees, and out of service area fees.