Burlington residents used to be able to rent an electric bike with just a swipe of their phone.Now, the vendor behind the city’s bike share program has pulled the plug.The Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association is looking into new options after Bolt Mobility, the vendor behind Burlington’s fleet of electric bikes, made the decision to cease operations. Sandy Thibault, executive director of Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association, said the sudden exit took her by surprise. Thibault said Bolt Mobility sent an email on July 7 stating that they were ceasing operations and letting employees go. The news comes as operations were set to expand across Burlington and surrounding municipalities.Bob Kohler said he’s on the Burlington Bike Path up to 3 times a week and said he hopes the city finds a solution soon. “I think they were well used, especially for tourists coming in,” Kohler said. More than 80 remaining bikes in the area are no longer operational.JP Coseno with North Star Sports said those looking to take a ride around Burlington should stop by for full-service rentals.”We make sure the bike is the right fit for you. We give you a helmet, a little bag to put your stuff in, there’s a flat tire repair kit,” Coseno said.In the meantime, Thibault says discussions to find a solution are ongoing.”We’re just waiting to hear from Bolt on how to remove the assets — the bikes and the signs — from the hubs to eliminate any confusion or frustration people may be experiencing,” Thibault said.According to the Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association, the city of Burlington has begun to remove hubs from all public stations, including hubs on Church Street.NBC5 reached out to Bolt Mobility for comment on the decision to cease operations but have not heard back.
Burlington residents used to be able to rent an electric bike with just a swipe of their phone.
Now, the vendor behind the city’s bike share program has pulled the plug.
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The Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association is looking into new options after Bolt Mobility, the vendor behind Burlington’s fleet of electric bikes, made the decision to cease operations.
Sandy Thibault, executive director of Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association, said the sudden exit took her by surprise.
Thibault said Bolt Mobility sent an email on July 7 stating that they were ceasing operations and letting employees go.
The news comes as operations were set to expand across Burlington and surrounding municipalities.
Bob Kohler said he’s on the Burlington Bike Path up to 3 times a week and said he hopes the city finds a solution soon.
“I think they were well used, especially for tourists coming in,” Kohler said.
More than 80 remaining bikes in the area are no longer operational.
JP Coseno with North Star Sports said those looking to take a ride around Burlington should stop by for full-service rentals.
“We make sure the bike is the right fit for you. We give you a helmet, a little bag to put your stuff in, there’s a flat tire repair kit,” Coseno said.
In the meantime, Thibault says discussions to find a solution are ongoing.
“We’re just waiting to hear from Bolt on how to remove the assets — the bikes and the signs — from the hubs to eliminate any confusion or frustration people may be experiencing,” Thibault said.
According to the Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association, the city of Burlington has begun to remove hubs from all public stations, including hubs on Church Street.
NBC5 reached out to Bolt Mobility for comment on the decision to cease operations but have not heard back.
