Green Bay brings back green bikes

GREEN BAY - After a few bumps in the road last year, Green Bay's free, bike-sharing program is back. It's designed to give people downtown a free and easy way to get around during the day.

25 bikes are available for use. They're spray-painted a bright green and located at eight different bike racks downtown.

"I used it last year just to head down to work real quick just to grab something and then head back," Crystal Osman, a city employee who lived downtown, said.

"Sure it's a free ride but it's more of a message on that we're a city that cares about the environment," Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said.

Schmitt said people have to respect the program for it to work. In its inaugural year, most of the free bikes were either lost or stolen.

"I'm not sure the return policy was as tight as we'd like it," Schmitt said. That's why the city has put some new rules in place this year that are designed to make sure the bikes will stay out and about.

The bikes will be locked up overnight, something that was not done last year. Schmitt said doing so will help prevent them from being stolen or vandalized.

Each bike also comes with small map reminding riders the different locations it can be returned. City leaders hope the changes to the program will make sure the bikes are around and ready to use.

"Our downtown is so easy to get from one side to the other walking and adding a bike just makes the trip that much quicker," Osman said.

Green Bay leaders said there is minimal cost to run the bike-sharing program. All the bikes are either found or donated.