Texas A&M University Transportation Services will transition from its current bike share system to a new vendor in January 2019. The department will partner with VeoRide, a micro-mobility share company, to continue providing dockless bike share service on campus.
“Texas A&M University will have the largest on-campus micro-mobility share program in U.S., and VeoRide is proud to provide the service and various fleet options to students and residents,” said Candice Xie, CEO of VeoRide. “We will be a great partner for the community.”
VeoRide operates on 20 other campuses and communities around the United States, including multiple markets in Texas. Officials said they expect a seamless transition from the previous provider with a similar number of bikes available for rent either by a pay-as-you-go arrangement or through a membership plan.
An information and resource table will be set up in the Memorial Student Center (MSC) beginning Monday, Nov. 26, through Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to answer questions about the new vendor. A VeoRide bike will also be on display.
VeoRide is expected to provide operational enhancements to the current bike share program of which the details are still being finalized. VeoRide has begun the permit application process with the City of College Station.
On-campus bike share was introduced to the Texas A&M campus community in March and has delivered 2,300 bikes with more than 39,500 registered users. Since the launch of the bike share program more than 330,000 miles have been logged on over 500,000 rides taken by customers.
Transportation Services Associate Vice President Peter Lange said bike share has been widely accepted by the community.
“We are excited to partner with VeoRide to continue the bike share program at Texas A&M,” Lange said. “We are pleased that we can continue to offer sustainable modes of travel to the campus community.”
Transportation Services is working through the transition details and expects uninterrupted service to the bike share program.
As information becomes available, a campaign to communicate the details about how to switch to the new vendor will be made available to the campus community. Regular updates will be posted to http://transport.tamu.edu/bikeshare. VeoRide will hire a fleet manager and fleet technician for this market. Those interested can find more information at https://veoride.applytojob.com/apply.
How It Works
To rent a bike, customers simply download the VeoRide app and locate a bike. They open Bluetooth on their phone, scan the QR code on the bike or enter the bike’s ID to unlock it, and ride. At the end of the trip, riders must park at designated parking locations on campus and around the city that are identified in the app, and they simply push the button on the bike lock to end the trip.
Program Costs
Current pay-as-you-go pedal bike rental rates start at 50 cents for 15 minutes. Day passes are $6.99 and include unlimited two-hour rides. Standard rates are $28.99/month or $99.99/annually. Additional packages are available at a discount to students, faculty and staff for $15/month, $50/semester or $75/annually and include unlimited one-hour rides.
About Transportation Services
Transportation Services is an empowered team of professionals dedicated to providing efficient, dynamic and innovative fleet, parking and transit services to the Texas A&M University community. Transportation Services supports the teaching, research and public service mission of Texas A&M University, with focus on customer service and communication.
About VeoRide
VeoRide, with offices in West Lafayette, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, is an easy-to-use and adaptable dockless micro-mobility share company. Micro-mobility includes all modes of short-distance transportation, including bikes, e-assisted bikes and e-scooters. The company aims to provide multi-modal alternative transportation to cities and college campuses. VeoRide currently operates more than 20 dockless micro-mobility share programs in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Texas, and continues to expand in additional markets each month. For more information about the company, visit www.veoride.com.
Media Contacts: Melissa Marie Maraj, Texas A&M University Transportation Services, 979-862-7371, mmaraj@tamu.edu; Linda Jackson, APR Director of Communications, VeoRide, 317-439-2252, Linda@veoride.com.
