New Shasta Bike Depot and Redding Bikeshare Bring Bike-Friendly Family Fun to Downtown Redding

This summer downtown Redding has become more bike-friendly for the whole family with the launch of the Shasta Bike Depot and Redding Bikeshare. Both projects are run by the local nonprofit Shasta Living Streets, hosts of the popular California Street Labs. Founded in 2010, the organization champions a vision of prosperity, livability, and equity where more people have affordable, sustainable options for everyday travel.

Located next to the Downtown Transit Center at 1322 California Street in Bell Plaza, the Shasta Bike Depot offers secure bike parking and is headquarters for all types of bike related family fun. This location will also house operations for Redding Bikeshare, and next winter, Pipeline, a gastropub, is set to open in the plaza.

The new Shasta Bike Depot and Redding Bikeshare have just made downtown Redding much more bike friendly for all ages.

From the new location, Shasta Living Streets will continue to host activities for both families and kids just as it has done for the past 13 years. Bike education classes and tours will include the popular Freedom from Training Wheels, custom Family Bike Tour and Skill Building for Teens and more.

Downtown secure bike parking and e-bikes

The new facility makes it possible for the whole family to ride bikes downtown for a meal at Damburger, ice cream or a trip to the Cascade Theatre, and park securely for up to 10 days, with 24-hour access. Parking is five cents per hour and payment is made through a BikeLink card and smartphone app. Cards can be purchased at the Shasta Bike Depot. BikeLink provides access to secure bike parking at more than 450 locations throughout the US.

For those who want to join in family bike rides but may have difficulty pedaling long distances, Redding Bikeshare has 70 bikes with optional battery-powered pedal assist available. These top-of-the-line electric bikes are ideally suited for riding in Redding’s hilly neighborhoods, for longer distances and for transporting bulky items such as groceries.

The bikes have a step-through design with an adjustable seat to accommodate adults of all sizes. They also include front and rear fenders, enclosed chain system to protect pant cuffs and shoes, disc brakes, a handlebar mount for cell phones, and integrated headlight, taillight, space for a bike bag, and a front basket.

The Connaughton family (left to right), Katie, Llewyn, Charlotte and Paul, make bike rides a regular outing.

Redding Bikeshare is the only all-electric, docked bikeshare system operating between Sacramento and Portland, OR. The initial phase includes 120 racks called “docks” placed at some 25 locations throughout downtown Redding and surrounding neighborhoods, at the Sacramento River Trail, and at Turtle Bay. All Redding Bikeshare trips begin and end at the docks, where the bikes remain parked when not being used. Each dock contains battery-powered technology that lets customers locate available bikes and dock parking through the Redding Bikeshare smartphone app.

Redding Bikeshare is designed to be cost-friendly, with passes for 24 hours ($18), 30 days ($30), and one year ($125). Each pass type includes unlimited 60 minute rides. Bikes that are not docked within 60 minutes, are then charged $3 per each additional 30 minutes. Passes can be purchased through the BCycle smartphone app. For those who don’t own a smartphone, Shasta Living Streets sells an RFID card for accessing the bikes. For information about discounted passes, contact Shasta Living Streets.

Part of downtown Redding’s mixed-use development project

The Shasta Bike Depot and Redding Bikeshare are part of a $111 million mixed-use development project being built in partnership with K2 Development Companies, the City of Redding and The McConnell Foundation. The project covers three blocks and includes affordable and market-rate housing and commercial space, as well as funding to build protected bike lanes to connect downtown Redding and the Sacramento River Trail.