Mitra said he is pleased to see the Ride 4 Smilies program go live after months of planning, research and data collection. In addition to Brewer, co-principal investigators are Suman Mitra, U of A assistant professor of civil engineering Sarah Hernandez, U of A associate professor of civil engineering Rogelio Garcia Contreras, director of the Social Innovation Program at the U of A Walton College of Business and Elizabeth McClain, chief wellness officer at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. The study is titled Shared Micromobility For Affordable-Accessible Housing. The project is funded through a $1 million National Science Foundation grant awarded to the U of A College of Engineering. "Rather than placing brand new, sparkling Smilies bikes at pre-determined locations, we intentionally sought out public input to guide where the Smilies bike-share would best meet the community's needs. Our primary goal is to partner with the community and find the best bike-share model and structure that changes lives." "The program must be reflective of the neighborhoods that it will serve," she said. Reese Brewer, director of the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the group is eager to learn how the Smilies bike-sharing pilot program can offer diverse communities in north Fort Smith reliable, equitable and healthy transportation choices. Supply chain issues have delayed the delivery of electronic bikes, so the program will begin using traditional bicycles until electric bikes arrive. Over time, researchers will test pricing and incentive strategies to develop a sustainable revenue model that balances profitability and affordability.
RIDE 4 WELLNESS FREE
Initially, one-hour rides will be free to encourage participation.
RIDE 4 WELLNESS CODE
After downloading the app and creating an account, residents can scan a QR code on the bike, ride it where they need to go, then return and lock it up at the station. The partners have established eight stations with shared bikes that can be accessed using an app called Movatic.
"From picking up a few items from the convenience store to simply taking a ride and enjoying the outdoors, bike sharing is a healthy way to travel." "We are excited to give our residents the opportunity to experience the many benefits of cycling," said Fort Smith Mayor George McGill. – City officials, planners and U of A researchers gathered Thursday in north Fort Smith for the official launch of Ride 4 Smilies, a low-cost bike-sharing service being deployed in areas where the majority of residents report not having a vehicle or access to reliable public transportation. Left to right: Reese Brewer, executive director of the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization George McGill, Fort Smith mayor and Suman Mitra, U of A assistant professor of civil engineering, try out bicycles available as part of the RIDE 4 SMILIES bike sharing project.įORT SMITH, Ark.
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