City of Fort Smith Adds New E-Bikes to its ‘Ride 4 SMILES’ Bikeshare Program
 The City of Fort Smith is adding 20 new E-Bikes to its ‘Ride for SMILES’ Bikeshare Program. These electric bikes are powered by a pedal and an electric motor. There are 10 E-Bikes currently located across the 8 stations listed below, with 10 more E-Bikes to arrive soon.
In May 2022, The City of Fort Smith launched the ‘Ride for SMILES’ bikeshare program with traditional 3-speed pedal bikes. Now, E-Bikes are on the rise.
“E-bikes are quickly becoming the bicycle of choice. The basic advantage of an E-bike is that every time you pedal, you get a boost from the electric motor. E-bikes allow residents to travel farther with less effort. Plus, renting through our bikeshare program is affordable,” noted Michael Mings, Mobility Coordinator, City of Fort Smith.
There are 40 bikes (including both E-Bikes and pedal bikes) across 8 stations located in Fort Smith.
- E-bikes cost $1 to unlock. The first half hour is free, then every half hour after is $1.
- E-bikes can travel up to 20 miles per hour.
- E-bikes allow riders to travel up a sizable hill with ease.
“As we work towards becoming a more bike-friendly community, Fort Smith's new E-bikes offer an affordable option for anyone wanting to go on a bike ride. They are a ton of fun as well! I encourage residents and visitors alike to download the Movatic app and try out an E-bike,” added Mings.
The Movatic app can be downloaded on the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
There are 30 pedal bikes available across the city. The pedal bikes cost $0.50 to unlock, with the first 30 minutes free to ride and $0.50 per 30 minutes after.
The ‘Ride 4 SMILES’ program is designed to provide accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation mobility for Fort Smith residents. It was introduced to the community in collaboration with the University of Arkansas, Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Western Arkansas Planning & Development District, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, Tandem Mobility, and Champion Cycling. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
‘Ride for SMILES’ Station Locations in Fort Smith
Availability of E-bikes at any station location may vary depending on rider usage
- Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 South 7th Street
- MLK Park, 1815 North Greenwood Avenue
- Fort Smith Housing Authority, 2100 North 31st Street
- 32nd and Grand near Family Dollar, 3201 Grand Avenue
- Riverfront Park, 201 Riverfront Drive
- Kinkead Avenue in front of Stubblefield Arena at UAFS
- Fire Station 3, 2020 North 6th Street
- Chaffee Crossing, 7309 Chad Colley Boulevard in Barling
Questions about E-Bikes or the Bikeshare program in Fort Smith?
Contact Michael Mings at 479-459-7313 or Michael.Mings@fortsmithar.gov.
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