ASK ME ABOUT: Red Bike reopening after a brief pause in operations.
WHY DID RED BIKE PAUSE OPERATIONS IN MARCH 2024 WHEN DID IT OFFICIALLY RE-OPEN? Red Bike is a 501c3 nonprofit, and the board of directors voted to liquidate assets after its chief sponsor, UC Health, could no longer fund operations. Red Bike officially re-opened on May 13.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF RED BIKE? A coalition of partners raised more than $500,000 to fund operations through at least April 2025.
WHAT FINANCIAL MILESTONES WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE RED BIKE CAN RUN INDEFINITELY OR AT LEAST FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME? A coalition of partners including the city, the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, Haile Foundation, and Metro are working with a nonprofit consultant on the long-term business plan for Red Bike. We will have that completed by the end of this year.
WHAT KEY VALUES DO YOU SEE RED BIKE ADDING TO THE CITY’S URBAN CORE? First, their Go Pass program makes Red Bike available for folks on public assistance and provides a mode of transportation for people to get to school, shopping, work, etc. This is the only mode of transportation for many. Second, Red Bike provides joy to residents and tourists alike who use it to get short distances in our urban core. Having this asset is a critical service for those coming to our city and conveys an important symbolic message to all of the area’s accessibility.