'POGOH,' new Bike Share Pittsburgh system, features e-bikes
Pittsburgh hills can be challenging on a bicycle, and Bike Share Pittsburgh is helping ease the stress of riding up the Burgh’s steepest inclines.
On Friday, it launched “POGOH,” a replacement for the city’s Healthy Ride bike share system, which began rolling in 2015.
POGOH includes a collection of new pedal and electric-assist bicycles, known as e-assist bikes.
E-bikes have a motor and work via a battery. The “assist” part kicks in when riders need extra power.
“The e-assist bike senses a rider’s output and makes it easier for them to take on Pittsburgh’s hills,” said David White, executive director of Bike Share Pittsburgh. ”We want people to get around more easily. These bikes are perfect for a new cyclist or a senior cyclist.”
The e-assist bikes are designated with a lightning bolt on the rear fender for a “little extra juice,” White said. The motor will cap off at 20 miles per hour. Riders may move faster using their own energy or gain additional momentum when they are going downhill.
There are 38 stations throughout the city holding 350 bicycles – more than half are e-assist bikes. The plan is to add 27 stations and more than 160 bikes this fall; half of those will be e-assist bicycles.
The pedal models weigh 40 pounds while the e-assist bikes are 60 pounds.
Happy Monday, Pittsburgh! It’s a beautiful day to enjoy a ride! #burghbikes #bikeshare #bikepgh #pittsburgh #pogoh pic.twitter.com/TW3empstUH
— POGOH (@pogohbikes) May 9, 2022
Highmark and Allegheny Health Network are title sponsors of the progra. Kenya Boswell, senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark Health, said the goal of the program continues to be to make biking an affordable and accessible mode of transportation for everyone.
Boswell said they’ve made sure to have biking stations in under-resourced communities.
“We know the positive impact that biking can have on our health, both mentally and physically,” Boswell said. “Through supporting this initiative, we hope to continue to provide mobility and health for more people in Pittsburgh.”
White said that in addition to Highmark and AHN, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s office, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility & Infrastructure have fully supported the program.
Records indicate more than 100,000 trips were taken per year and 660,000 since its inception seven years ago, White said. All of the Healthy Ride bicycles found new homes through the Recycle A Bicycle program that donated more than 400 bikes to local non-profits and schools, according to Bike Share Pittsburgh.
They named the new program “POGOH” like a pogo, jumping around the city, White said.
Riders download the app for Apple or Google Play, then choose either a pedal bike or an e-bike. The e-bikes have a display showing the bike’s battery level.
Riders then scan a QR code to unlock the bike. They are required to return the bike to a docking station and lock it into place.
The e-assist bikes will be charged through Duquesne Light. Pittsburgh was the first city in the U.S. to offer e-assist bike charging at public stations, according to Bike Share Pittsburgh.
“I feel like there will be more with this new system,” White said. “It is super easy. You download the app, choose which model and that’s it.”
Riders are encouraged to wear a helmet and ride on the street, not the sidewalk.
“We’re determined to build the best bike share program for Pittsburgh,” White said. “Bikeshare is an important part of the mobility mix in our city. We’re dedicated to making POGOH a reliable, joyful and equitable experience for residents and visitors.”
Annual membership includes unlimited 30-minute rides for $120 per year. A mobility justice membership is available for those who receive government assistance for $10 per year, a flex pass of 5 hours is $20, and pay-as-you-go pricing is $3.50 per 30-minutes for pedal bikes, and $5 per 30-minutes for e-bikes. Riders can also use a Port Authority connect card.
The bike “will give a little kick going up a hill,” said Betty Cruz of the North Side, who is president of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.
“These bikes help people who ride them connect to their world,” Cruz said. “They can get people to places they want to go and create a healthy culture. They give you a unique perspective to your city. Riding a bike is the closest thing to flying you will get.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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