As the weather begins to warm up, skip driving inside a stuffy car and opt for hopping on top of a bicycle. With Fort Collins' new Bike Share Program, 79 cruiser bikes are currently available for automated checkout at 13 different stations around town. Serving as an evolution to the former Bike Library, this new program is an affordable, fun and convenient way to borrow a bike and ride it wherever you would like. Whether you choose to cruise the quaint neighborhoods of Old Town or take your rental to the multi-use trails instead, the checkout process is quick and easily accessible, and rentals can be returned to any of the 13 stations. This program is a collaboration between Zagster, the City of Fort Collins, and Bike Fort Collins. Each bicycle is equipped with an adjustable seat, both front and rear lights, as well as a front basket. A majority of the stations are located around Old Town, with three more planned to be put around CSU's campus. During kiosk hours, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Bike Fort Collins employees will be on-site and ready to help with route suggestions, as well as provide safety and tourist information to cyclists.

So how does it work? To unlock a rental, riders first need to enter in the bike's associated number by either using the Zagster app or by texting Zagster at 202-999-3924, and then click start. From there, riders will be provided with a code to open and close the lockbox that's attached to the bike. A key located inside the lockbox unlocks the bike from the station and allows riders to secure their bike elsewhere using the provided U-lock, should they decide to make stops throughout their ride. Once riders are finished and the bike has been returned to a station, the final thing that needs to be done is just going back into the app and clicking "End Ride."

There are daily, weekly, or annual passes available. A 24-hour pass is $7, a weekly pass $15, and an annual pass is $60. Rides up to 30 minutes are free and after that, the cost to ride is $2 an hour, with a maximum of $18 a ride. Riders may be held liable for replacement of lost bikes.

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