Gas Too Expensive? Cruise Around Missoula on a “Blue Bike”

By Kaylee Porter, 7-29-08

With gas prices soaring and downtown parking spaces as elusive as ever, many Missoulians are looking for new and cheaper ways to get around. One often-overlooked option, the vivid blue cruiser bikes available for rent through Missoula Parks and Recreation, might not be new to Missoula, but the price is definitely right—they’re free.

The “Blue Bikes” program is in its second year, but few people knew about the program last year and those who did were often thwarted by a confusing computerized lock system, says Jason Pignanelli, outdoor specialist for Missoula Parks and Recreation.

“Last summer our system wasn’t super user-friendly. It was even confusing for me and I knew how it worked,” he says. “We promoted them, but we just couldn’t get a lot of people on them.”

They changed to a simple padlock and key system this summer, however, and Pignanelli says it much easier for people to use. There are still plenty of bikes up for grabs most days though because there are rarely more than five or six checked out at a time.

The 20 Trek cruiser bikes, housed in lockers at Currents Aquatics Center in McCormick Park are one-speed and they have low-rise handlebars and wide, cushy seats. Helmets and bike locks are also available free of charge.

In order to check a cruiser out, riders generally must provide a credit card number and a picture ID, but if the bike comes back on time there is no charge. If the bike is not returned by the end of the day there is a $10 late charge per night.

Bikes are available for day use whenever Currents is open. That’s 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and after 11 a.m. on Sundays. On Saturdays, bikers can take a bike out and return it on Sunday afternoon.

The program is sponsored by Dasani, Trek Bicycles, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the city of Missoula.

Pignanelli says he would like to see more people using the bikes. He suggests people, especially those who drive in from Lolo and other surrounding areas, use the bikes as a part of their commute.

“You can park here for free, grab a bike, ride it downtown and lock it up for the day,” Pignanelli says. “It’s probably like a five minute bike ride and it is totally free.”

He also says the bikes would be perfect for visitors to Missoula.

“A lot of the locals have bikes already, but the bikes could be really great for tourists. One local family last week had relatives visiting so they used the bikes to show them around,” says Pignanelli.

(Click here for a PDF copy of the Riverfront Trail System Self-Guided Bike Tour.)

The bikes are thoroughly checked and tuned once a week by bike tech Richard Haderli.

“Safety is the main reason for checking the bikes every week. That way people can enjoy themselves because they don’t have to worry about the bikes breaking down on them,” Haderli says.

Pignanelli says he also encourages his employees to ride the bikes. Katie Ransom, a Parks and Recreation employee, uses the cruisers when she needs to go downtown from the office in McCormick Park.

“The bikes are awesome. They are really comfortable and easy to ride,” she says. “We use them for some of the summer camps too and all the kids are really into them.”

Ransom says the bikes are great for older kids, but because they are not child-sized smaller kids can have problems riding them. Pignanelli hopes to have several children’s bikes before the end of the summer, however, so families can ride the cruisers together.