Great Lakes - Cinci bike share?

I am going to be in Cinci from June 2 to 9 as a reader for the College Board's AP environmental science exam. This is my third year doing it. I like doing it a great deal but miss my bike (the stationary trainer in the hotel just doesn't do it for me). I only get a couple of hours in the afternoon to do anything so renting a bike just doesn't seem worth it.

Does any kind of rudimentary, ad hoc, bootleg, bike share exist in the Cinci area? Anyone care to let me borrow a bike (I can bring my own shoes and pedals) for a couple of afternoons during that week? I'm 5'10" and not at all particular about the type -- department store is fine -- as long as the pedals turn and there is rubber on the rims.

Phil L.
Ashfield, MA
www[dot]whitneyacres[dot]com

P.S. Any sense in cross-posting this to the Southeast discussion forum?

you are in luck son. The City just opened the Cincinnati Bike Center at Smale Riverfront Park (120 E. Mehring Way). It opened a week or 2 ago and I haven't been yet to confirm, but everything I've seen so far says you can at least rent bikes if not have access to some kind of "bike share."

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-25435-cincinnati_bike_center_opens.html

Yahoo! Thanks for the news.

confirmed. i stopped by yesterday and they have a decent amount of new trek hybrids to rent. did not check prices. facility was smaller than expected, and more difficult to find than i had predicted, although it looked well-kept and staffed by competent people. for reference it's on the north side of mehring way one block west of great american ballpark. it's a small office on the ground floor of the parking garage - the bikes are stored just inside the parking garage entrance.

good luck.

I purchased their bike share (good for one year) for $45 and used it every afternoon of the six days I was in the city. Most times it was for an hour and a half or less. It was enough time though to see many of the sights. They are very friendly and helpful. It's a great addition to the city. I recommend checking them out if you are in the area.