RTC Bike Share December Newsletter 2024 

Wrapping Up the Year with RTC Bike Share 

The Last Learn to Ride 

Last month, we hosted our most successful Learn to Ride event yet! With a full class of new riders, participants learned the essentials of riding a bike and staying safe on the streets of Las Vegas. It was inspiring to see everyone’s enthusiasm and determination as they embraced the freedom of cycling. Each rider pedaled into a new world, joining our RTC Bike Share family. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome these new cyclists to our community! 

Join Us This Month at First Friday  

We’re proud to be part of the vibrant Las Vegas community, and there’s no better way to connect than on First Friday December 6th! Each month, we set up our RTC Bike Share tent across from 18 Bin, complete with our branded tent, demo bikes, lush faux grass, and our always-popular prize wheel. Stop by to chat with us about all things RTC Bike Share, discover the month’s latest happenings! We love answering your questions and sharing insights about our growing program. 

Tis the Season to Ride! 

Tis The Season To Ride! Join us for the festive holiday ride to support children in need. 

Plus, donate a new, unwrapped toy and be entered to win tickets to the Vegas Golden Knights v. Seattle Kraken on Saturday, 12/21 at 7p.m.! 

Bring an unwrapped toy on Saturday, December 14 to RTC’s Westcliff Transit Center at 25 S. Durango Drive. 8 – 8:30 a.m. 

For more information and to register, please visit rtcsnv.com/toydrive 

Art in Motion: New Station Artwork Coming Soon 

With the new year on the horizon, we’re thrilled to announce the addition of creative, eye-catching artwork to three of our bike share stations. You may recall our collaboration with the talented artist Melody Gallegos, who brought life to our East Las Vegas station earlier this year. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response, we’ve expanded this initiative! 

In January, look out for new artwork at The Center, Plasma Center and our station at Bruce + Ogden! 

Each station’s design is uniquely crafted to celebrate the spirit of its neighborhood. Be sure to check them out and share your favorite designs with us on social media! 

Stay Connected with the RTC Bike Share App 

Haven’t downloaded the RTC Bike Share app yet? Now’s the perfect time! Stay updated on all the latest news, locate nearby stations, and plan your rides with ease. The app is your gateway to exclusive updates and offers. 

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the bike enthusiasts in your life? Check out our gift packages—ideal for anyone looking to explore Las Vegas on two wheels! 

Looking Ahead: Exciting Growth in 2025 

 As we continue to expand RTC Bike Share across Las Vegas, we’re excited to bring bike share stations to even more neighborhoods. Your support has been invaluable in helping us grow, and we look forward to seeing you out on the streets riding with us. 

From everyone at RTC Bike Share, thank you for being part of our journey this year. Here’s to an even more vibrant, connected, and sustainable Las Vegas in 2025!  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, The RTC Bike Share Team.  

Celebrate October with RTC Bike Share: Events, Rides, and Exciting News! 

This October, we’re celebrating one of the most festive months of the year! With Halloween, Biketoberfest, the Glow Ride, and so much more, there are plenty of events for our riders to enjoy. At RTC Bike Share, we love staying connected with our community and exploring the vibrant streets of Las Vegas while enjoying the health benefits of biking—improved mood, reduced stress, and enhanced mental clarity are just a few! As we move into fall, we’re excited to reflect on some recent successes and share even more upcoming rides—whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a new rider, there’s something for everyone in our bike lane! 

Reflecting on Past Events: The Success of the Blacks in Nature Ride 

Our recent Blacks in Nature/RTC Bike Crawl was a tremendous success! The event brought together a fantastic group of cyclists who came out to experience the joy of biking and its positive impact on mental and physical well-being as we cruised through the streets of Las Vegas, celebrating community, health, and togetherness. 

With over 20 bikes in action, the energy was vibrant and enthusiastic as we explored various neighborhoods, enjoying the splendors of our city. Our partners, Blacks in Nature, have been dedicated to fostering outdoor activities and encouraging people to stay connected to nature and each other. We want to thank them for their collaboration and continued partnership! 

If you missed this bike crawl, stay connected by signing up for our latest rides and enjoy the fun, laughter, and camaraderie of being part of this wonderful community. 

Upcoming Events: Celebrate and Ride with Us!

Ready, Set, Glow! – All Month-Long Event 

Ready, Set, Glow! is our spin-off of the popular Duck Hunt Series. This October, we’re partnering with The Center and four other community partners, each housing a different colored light-up bracelet. This unique event celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and our Las Vegas community. Take a bike ride, explore each location, collect all five colors, and enter to win various prizes! 

Stay Cool with RTC Bike Share  

Summer is upon us as we enter the hottest months here in Las Vegas. As temperatures rise, it’s essential to stay cool and healthy while enjoying the summer’s events and activities. Here are some tips to create that balance while using RTC Bike Share this summer!  

Staying Cool  

Keeping cool in the heat can be challenging. Staying hydrated is crucial, so always carry a water bottle with you. The more you sweat, the more you should drink!  

You can also take a moment in the shade and don’t be afraid to take breaks! Many of our stations are located near local businesses and parks where you can enjoy the shade or take a breather inside with some AC. This will help prevent heat-related illnesses and regulate your temperature to avoid heat stroke. Staying cool is key to enjoying your ride and keeping your energy up.  

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We Would Love to Hear From You!

What do you love about RTC Bike Share? How can we improve?
Why do (or don’t) you ride?

To help us improve, we invite you to complete a brief survey about your experience with RTC Bike Share for a chance to win a $250 DTLV gift card bundle, including gift cards from some of your favorite downtown Las Vegas businesses.

This survey is open to everyone. Never used RTC Bike Share before? No problem! All feedback is welcome. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. Click here to complete the survey by September 7, 2023, to be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $250 DTLV gift card bundle!

Take RTC Bike Share and #BikeThere to support Black-owned businesses in Downtown Las Vegas! We’ve created a map with popular Black-owned businesses in Downtown Las Vegas that are within walking distance of RTC Bike Share stations.

Click the map to see stations and locations to #BikeThere in your area!

If you know of a Black-owned business located in DTLV that you would like to share with other bike share riders, let us know and we’ll add it to the map. Please send us an e-mail at [email protected]

In celebration of American Heart Month, we’re extending a discounted Downtowner pass promotion to help you commit to improved cardiovascular health this year! Wondering how cycling contributes to a healthier heart? Here are a few benefits of regular cycling:

To help you get riding, now through the end of February, you can purchase an annual Downtowner pass at a discounted rate of $99. That’s 365 days of unlimited 60-minute rides for less than $100! Click below to purchase and use promo code NEWYOU to get your Downtowner pass for $99.

This promotion is good through February 28, 2023. One use per account holder. 365 days begins once the first ride is taken. Additional usage fees may apply for e-bike use and rides over 60 minutes. 

In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few of the many stories of Black cyclists who have inspired change for Black people in the cycling world for Black people across the U.S.

Katherine T. “Kittie” Knox worked as a seamstress in the late 19th century. In 1884, after discovering a passion for cycling, she challenged the League of American Wheelmen’s policy of excluding Black people from membership by participating in cycling races. Eventually becoming the first Black American member of the league, Kittie’s bravery and efforts to advocate for the desegregation of the League of American Wheelmen contributed to a more inclusive and equitable future for cycling. In 1993, the name of the league was changed to League of American Bicyclists. The 1884 ban on Black people was officially lifted in 1999. Kittie Knox is now celebrated as a champion of racial and gender equality in bicycling. 

Today we have championed Black cyclists like Nelson Vails (the first and only Black Olympic medalist from the USA in cycling) and Ayesha McGowan (USA’s first Black Pro Woman Cyclist) in large thanks to Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor. Widely known as a cycling legend and one of the greatest cyclists of his era, Major competed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite facing significant racial discrimination, including being banned from races and facing threats and violence, Major went on to become one of the most successful cyclists of his time and was known as the “Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.” He won numerous races and broke several world records, becoming a pioneering figure in the sport of cycling and an inspiring figure for Black Americans and people around the world. 

From creating cycling clubs and organized races as a way to promote physical fitness and community building to embracing cycling as a form of resistance against segregation and racism, the history of Black Americans in cycling is one of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Despite facing a multitude of challenges and discrimination, Black cyclists in America have made significant contributions to the sport of cycling and have continued to celebrate the freedom and empowerment that comes from riding a bike. 

It was a busy October for RTC Bike Share! In addition to celebrating #6years with you, we also partnered with three organizations for three separate group rides throughout the downtown Las Vegas community. 

First, we partnered with Blacks in Nature for their first Black Business #DTLV Crawl. Blacks in Nature is a community group founded by Roz Brooks to create accessible outdoor experiences for people of color in the Las Vegas community. The group took RTC Bike Share all over #DTLV making stops at black-owned businesses including LAYOP Clothing, Sin City Seafood Kitchen & Lounge, Classic Jewel, Nail Therapy Beauty Boutique, Tap N Ash Social Club, and more. Visit https://blacksinnature.com for more information about the group and how to join. 

Next up, Nevada APA Conference! The 50th annual conference of the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association was held at the Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas with the theme of Planning for the Challenges of Tomorrow. To get acquainted with some of the downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods, members utilized RTC Bike Share for an afternoon ride visiting Symphony Park, Arts District, and Fremont East District. For more information about the Nevada APA visit https://nevada.planning.org.

Finally, we partnered with the Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition for the Bike2Art community ride through downtown Las Vegas. The 6-mile ride featured stops at DTLV murals and eateries where riders had the opportunity to indulge in food and beverage samples. The Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition advocates for safer roadways, better trails, and more biking opportunities in Southern Nevada. To learn more about the Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition and for details on becoming a member, visit https://snvbc.org.