Bike Share Program to Further Connect Downtown, Knowledge Park, and the Winthrop Campus

ROCK HILL, S.C. (April 10, 2018) – A free, new Bike Share Program designed to strengthen public wellness, increase traffic to downtown businesses and maximize a sense of community, all while reducing traffic and motor vehicle pollution, is coming to Rock Hill! Comporium is proud to bring a concept to Rock Hill that is sweeping big cities and small towns alike. The fleet of 25 bikes styling the Comporium colors and logo was unveiled at Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill, on Tuesday, April 10th.

The Comporium Bike Share offers bicycles for shared use on a short-term basis. The bicycle sharing concept originated in Europe in 1965; and thanks to the advancement of information technology, the notion has rapidly evolved in more than 50 countries around the world!

HOW IT WORKS: From the web or a free app on your smartphone, you can reserve a bike and pick it up at the bike corral; use may then use the bike at your leisure. There are five bike hub stations planned throughout Knowledge Park for the initial phase of the program. You can use your bicycle to enjoy the area, which extends from Fountain Park in Old Town to Winthrop’s Campus, pausing to have a cup of coffee, shop, or even attend a business luncheon. The bikes are equipped with GPS tracking for data-gathering and to ensure their return.

Riders can create accounts by signing up via the website: http://gotchabike.com/comporium/ or directly downloading the Social Bicycles app. Once an account is created, the rider enters his or her six-digit account number and 4-digit PIN code on the keypad on the rear of the bike to unlock the bike’s u-bar. Once this process has been completed, they just jump on and ride to their destination. For convenience, bikes can also be reserved ahead of time via the website or app. There’s the option of placing the bike on hold – parking it temporarily – and to finish the ride, the rider simply returns the bike to a hub and locks it in place using the provided u-bar. The app also features a repair function that allows the user to report maintenance issues directly from the bike’s keypad interface.

Locations for 5 hubs have been set for the following locations:
• Corner of Main St. and Elizabeth Ave. (Fountain Park)
• Corner of Main St. and Dave Lyle Blvd. (The Anderson)
• Legal Remedy Brewing
• Winthrop, West Center
• Winthrop, Richardson Hall

“Downtown Rock Hill is experiencing a revival and ensuring that the growth in our downtown area includes a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly approach has been a priority of civic leaders.” said Matthew Dosch, Comporium’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “The Bike Share program is about connecting our community, promoting healthier lifestyles and it jumpstarts plans to bring more foot-powered traffic downtown.”

“Gotcha Bikes”, manufacturer of the smart bike, states that a Bike Share Program can have a measurable impact on the health and wealth of the communities it serves. For example, when bikes were used as transportation instead of motor vehicles in Charleston, SC, CO2 emissions were reduced by 37,548 pounds, $24,696 was saved in gas, and 1,703,208 calories were burned by the riders. The transportation start-up also reports that since the launch of the program in Charleston last year, more than 5,826 residents and tourists have taken 19,522 trips on a Gotcha Bike.

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About Comporium
Comporium, Inc., headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., is a diversified, privately-held communications company that employs nearly 1,200 people and provides broadband, TV, voice, wireless, smart home systems and advertising services throughout the Carolinas. Comporium is committed to the communities it serves and takes immense pride in giving back through sponsorships, economic development grants and investments, and community-sponsored events. For more information, please visit www.comporium.com.