New Onsite Bike Rental Pilot Program at Select Carlson Rezidor Hotels
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is trying out a pilot program at several properties where you can rent bikes.
Watching the trends of guests, Carlson Rezidor noticed that guests wanted to exercise more while still being environmentally conscious. Biking is also a great way to explore a new city, and in places like Copenhagen there are phone apps with city maps with points of interest.
To fit their needs, Avanti self-contained bike rental stations are popping up at Carlson Rezidor hotels participating in the test program.
Bike share is starting to gain popularity for good reason. Because there is no need to have staff at the station, the rental cost stays low and the stations operate 24 hours a day. If you feel like taking an early morning ride down the still-quiet streets of a city, you can do so without waiting for opening hours at a shop or kiosk.
Haven’t rented a bike from an automated station before? Here’s how it works –
You slide your credit card in the payment slot, choose a time period (one, four or eight hours), then choose a bike number from the rack. Once you walk over to the bike, a green light flashes that you can remove the bike (you get 30 seconds). Push the bike forward to release the lock and then pull it out. You’re all set to ride!
The Spinway bikes in the pilot program have puncture-proof tires, chain protector with enclosed internal gears & brakes, low step frame to make it comfortable for lots of riders, an adjustable seat, and even a basket in the front.
Here are the hotels participating in the pilot program –
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Radisson Blu Minneapolis, Downtown
Radisson Hotel Duluth-Harborview
Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Midtown at USC
Radisson Resort at the Port (Cape Canaveral, FL)
Radisson Hotel Portland Airport
Radisson Hotel Rochester Riverside
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Marquette, MI
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Port Canaveral, FL
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Port Orange-Daytona, FL
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Traverse City, MI
A one hour rental goes for $11.00, four hours for $22, and eight hours for $33. Prices include helmet, lock, map and lights which you can retrieve from the front desk or concierge. I’d really rather see complimentary bikes offered by hotels, but then you run into the dreaded mandatory “resort fee” even if you don’t use them. Plus, this way you can get one at any hour and there is little chance that when you want to ride they’d all be rented out.
What do you think of bike share, and would you try it?
