More than 1,000 Freewheelin bikes rented on first day of DNC

By Ashleigh Oldland, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 25, 2008 at 6:54 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 6:54 p.m.

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Photo by Jerd Smith © The Rocky

Business is good Monday morning at the Freewheelin bike share station across from the Colorado Convention Center.

DOWNTOWN DENVER - To rent a bike for a day during the convention this week, there's no need to spend money, all it takes is 5 minutes, an identification card and a credit card to cruise around Denver.

Supported by Humana and Boulder-based Bike Belong, Freewheelin will be checking out bikes to those 18 and older from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday. The bikes come complete with helmet, calorie and mile counter, bike lock and Denver bike path map.

At 5:30 p.m. today, 1,348 people had rented bikes, burning a total of 48,478.11 calories while traveling 1,559.21 miles.

Freewheelin plans to donate 70 of their 1,000 bikes to the City of Denver.

Many locals, delegates and media alike used the bikes today and some say they hope Denver will continue a bike-rental program after the convention.

"We've had a good mix of everyone," said Anna Hobbs, working at a rental tent with Freewheelin of the people checking out bikes today.

Hobbs said she hopes Denver will set up a solar-powered kiosk and continue to rent bikes to the public after the convention.

"People are really interested in using this service after the convention," she said.

Freewheelin will also be distributing rental bikes to the public at the Republican National Convention.

• August 25, 2008

  7:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bill1020 writes:

  Great idea! 1348 people burned 48,478.11 calories traveling more than 1559 miles. Rentals open to anyone 18 and older from 7 a.m through 7 p.m Thursday. Interesting story except for one thing: where IS the Freewheelin' tent? Downtown? It's a big place. Story like this is not very helpful for someone who might be interested in giving a bike the spin. Unless, hmmm, using this story how many people could burn up how many calories walking how many miles downtown looking for the tent?

• August 25, 2008

  7:56 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  rj1967 writes:

  I was wondering the same thing. I've been downtown yesterday and today, saw quite a few of these bikes, but no idea how to get one.

• August 25, 2008

  8:08 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  rj1967 writes:

  Here's a link for any questions about getting a bike.

  http://www.freewheelinwaytogo.com/any...

• August 25, 2008

  8:26 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  indianhillsted writes:

  Go here

  http://www.bikesbelong.org/dnc

• August 25, 2008

  10:30 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  HoldYourHorses writes:

  The FreeWheelin' rental area is across the street from the Denver Convention Center, sort of behind Bubba Gumps. Watch for a zillion lime green bikes, behind a chain link fence. There's a parking lot there by it.

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