Roll into summer with bike-sharing in the Forest Preserves

Integrating new dockless technology into its bike-share program, the Forest Preserves of Cook County is making it even easier to enjoy more than 300 miles of paths and trails.

Through a pilot program in partnership with HOPR and Bike and Roll Chicago, Cook County residents can "Bike the Preserves" without hauling a bike from home. With 500 dockless bikes to share (up from 50), and 50 hubs planned throughout the Forest Preserves of Cook County's 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful, more families from across Chicago and Cook County can get active this summer with fun, affordable biking in the forest preserves.

"Not everyone who comes to the forest preserves owns a bike, so this is a great opportunity for Cook County residents and visitors." said Forest Preserves of Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. "Expanding our bike-share program is a great way to get more people to enjoy the outdoors and our beautiful trails."

To access the bikes, visitors download the "HOPR" app to their smartphone or tablet. The app enables users to unlock and repark bikes from any of the hubs using their smartphone or tablet and pay $2.50 per trip for 30-minute rides, or purchase a $60 seasonal membership for 90 minutes of ride time per day through November 2018. Bike and Roll Chicago is responsible for ensuring bikes in the Forest Preserves are properly maintained and kept in peak condition.

"We're proud to work with partners Bike and Roll Chicago and HOPR to provide another low-cost way for families to explore nature and get healthy this summer," said Forest Preserves of Cook County General Superintendent Arnold Randall. "With this significant expansion of our bike services, we want to encourage more visitors to create their own bike adventure in the Forest Preserves.

"We're thrilled to be part of the largest deployment of dockless bike-share in the Chicago area and to bring HOPR's technology to more riders on these landmark Cook County trails," said HOPR CEO Josh Squire. "The HOPR bikes will offer another inexpensive, convenient mode of transportation for those short trips or recreational outings."

Dockless bikes are currently available at approximately half of the proposed hub locations throughout the Forest Preserves of Cook County, including stations along the North Branch Trail, and at Cermak Woods, Dan Ryan Woods Central, Whistler Woods, Glenwood Woods North and Lansing Woods. All hubs are slated to be completed in the next few weeks.

To experience dockless bikes in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, first-time HOPR app users can enjoy one complimentary 30-minute ride. The offer will be preloaded onto the app, and is available for a limited time.

For information, including an interactive map featuring dockless bike-share hub locations and forest preserves' trails, visit fpdcc.com.