Ford GoBike launches 5 new bike-share stations in Bayview

Ford GoBike launches 5 new bike-share stations in BayviewFord GoBikes outside San Francisco City Hall. | Photo: Ford GoBike
Nathan Falstreau
Published on September 24, 2018

The next wave of Ford GoBike deployment is targeting the Bayview, with the addition of five new bikeshare stations in the neighborhood as of late last week.

The new stations, chosen with input from the local community and District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen, are located at Newhall and Third streets, Lane Street at Revere Avenue (near the YMCA); Lane and Van Dyke streets; Williams and Apollo avenues (near FoodsCo); and Mendell Street at Fairfax Avenue (near Youngblood-Coleman Playground). 

Motivate, the company behind the ubiquitous blue bike-share program, currently has more than 300 stations and 3,000 bikes throughout San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville. Ultimately, Motivate is aiming for 546 stations and 7,000 bikes across the Bay Area. 

Cohen said that she worked closely with Motivate "to make sure their planning efforts were responsive to community needs ... [and] accelerated this installation at my urging, so that my constituents can access this affordable transportation option even sooner." 

“Having more bike-share stations in the Bayview will be a big benefit to our community,” she added. 

Last Thursday, Ford GoBike employees and members of the community came out to celebrate the launch at the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA, with free rides, giveaways and food catered by neighborhood eateries such as Yvonne's Southern Sweets and All Good Pizza. 

Tyra Fennell, a Bayview resident and CEO and co-founder of Imprint City, said that she is an avid cyclist and uses the bike-share program frequently. "It is so freeing to have another reliable transportation option that can get me where I need to go fast," she said. "I'm excited to see them in the Bayview." 

GoBike is aiming to be accessible to low-income riders; anyone aged 18 and up who qualifies for Calfresh, SMFTA Lifeline Passes and/or PG&E Care utility discounts can enroll in the company's "Bike Share For All" program, which offers a year of membership for just $5. Those without credit or debit cards can also link their Clipper card to unlock bikes, or pay with cash.

“These new stations bring the joy of bike share to Bayview, expanding bike share access in a community where quality transportation options are critically needed,” said Emily Stapleton, general manager of Ford GoBike. “We look forward to partnering with Bayview neighbors to build excitement for bike share and being part of this vibrant, historic community for years to come.”