Bublr Bikes, the bike-sharing system in Milwaukee, will be open through winter for the first time this year.
Last year, the system shut down for winter in December and reopened mid-March.
Bublr Bikes says its staff will clean station equipment weekly to remove salt and grit. The organization also says the bikes are manufactured to stand up to tough weather conditions and are checked regularly by mechanics to ensure they are in working order.
“We want Bublr to be a viable transportation option for as many days as possible,” Bublr Bikes executive director Kevin Hardman said. “We will react very quickly to weather conditions and are able to shut down the network when the roads are not suitable for riding a Bublr Bike. More and more people ride bicycles through Milwaukee winters to commute, get around or have fun. Bublr now will provide Milwaukee residents and visitors with a set of bicycle wheels they can ride all winter, not just in warmer months.”
Bublr will suspend network service during City of Milwaukee declared snow emergencies. Bublr may also suspend service for additional weather concerns at its discretion. In these cases, current Bublr Pass holders will receive an email.
Bublr has been working with owners of property adjacent to stations to set up protocols for snow removal. Bublr Bikes will be responsible for snow removal around the stations. Two stations will be removed for the duration of winter due to agreements with the properties and the City of Milwaukee. The stations, at 411 East Wisconsin and Cathedral Square, will be reinstalled in early spring.
Since Summer 2014, Bublr Bikes, a Milwaukee-based non-profit organization, has launched 28 bike share stations in and around Milwaukee’s downtown in partnership with the City of Milwaukee. In the coming years, the system plans to expand to over 100 stations and 1,000 Bublr Bikes in the Milwaukee area.
