Our new micro-mobility initiative featuring scooter and bicycle sharing offered exclusively by Veo has officially started!
Veo is slowly rolling out this new service and plans to have approximately 350-400 scooters (seated and stand-up) and 50-75 bikes (traditional and pedal-assisted) available for rent within the next few weeks.
Look for established scooter and bike corrals and approved parking areas on Main Street (conveniently located near Bay Runner trolley stops), St. Armands Circle and other parts of the city. Staff will be evaluating the parking corral areas to determine efficiency, location and whether modifications are required.
Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The vehicles can be unlocked and rented via the Veo mobile app available in the App Store and Google Play. Rental costs for scooters are $1 to unlock and 37 cents per minute. Bike rentals are 50 cents per half hour. Through its Veo Access program, the company also offers discounted rates to low-income users who qualify.
Our goal with the program is to offer a short distance transportation option that is easy, safe and convenient.
Interested in checking out the scooters and bikes in person and learning more? Representatives from Veo and our Parking Management and Mobility team will be at the Farmers Market Saturday, March 26 offering demonstrations and answering questions.
Have questions right now? Visit Veo.com or check out our Frequently Asked Questions
We expect there may be a learning curve with the addition of this micro-mobility option to our community and we hope everyone is patient especially during the early rollout phase. Staff will be monitoring, making adjustments as needed, and holding Veo accountable.
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The scooter/bike shares are initially being placed along the Bay Runner trolley route in downtown to help people use different modes of transportation to easily move around for short trips.
Into its second full week providing free trolley service between downtown and Lido Beach with stops at St. Armands Circle, the Bay Runner is off to a good start! Word continues to spread and more residents and visitors are opting to live more, drive less and try the Bay Runner.
Staff are reviewing preliminary data and planning to make modifications as needed. We’ve noted some traffic delays at the route endpoint at Ted Sperling Park on South Lido Key and are considering options for improved traffic flow.
Right now the busiest time on the trolley is during lunch between 1 and 2 p.m. with ridership slowing down after 10 p.m.
The Bay Runner is available every day of the year from 8 a.m. to midnight. Typically, two trolleys are in operation from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., so headways are shorter during that time -- approximately every 20 minutes. With spring break underway, a second trolley will continue to run until midnight tonight (Friday) and Saturday. Enjoy a beautiful evening out in downtown and/or St. Armands Circle!
More information and a route map is available at www.SarasotaBayRunner.com
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What does Sarasota look like to you? That’s what we’re asking in a brief online survey as we begin our City logo and seal rebranding effort.
This survey is the first step in a six-month process, and it’s one of several community engagement efforts we have planned. These include a future design competition for the City Seal (which dates back to 1902 and appears on official documents), which will in turn help inform the creative direction for refreshing the city’s “David” logo that debuted in the 1980s. The city has grown tremendously since then, and the City Commission has approved this effort to explore a rebranding that reflects Sarasota’s evolution and vibrancy.
 The City has partnered with Dream Large, the largest registered benefit corporation on the Gulf Coast of Florida, on this initiative. You may be familiar with this local company’s work – Dream Large has led branding efforts for The Bay Sarasota, All Faiths Food Bank and the Library Foundation for Sarasota County.
The online survey is now available and takes about 5 minutes to complete. The input gathered will help us better understand how the community sees Sarasota. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 8.
Jobs, jobs, jobs! Are you or someone you know looking for part-time employment?
We’re seeking qualified candidates for lifeguard, camp counselor and custodian positions from May through August at our Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex, Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and Lido Pool. Flexible hours are available with opportunities available 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and weekends.
In past years, staffing shortages have resulted in some facilities, including swimming pools, being temporarily closed to the public. We hope to fill these positions well before summer break!
Interested? Please visit SarasotaFL.gov to learn more and complete an online application.
Share with your family, friends and neighbors!
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The locker rooms at our Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex reopened last week after undergoing a much-needed extreme makeover. Both the women's and men’s locker rooms were completely renovated and now have new showers, sinks, floors, toilets, lockers, seating -- the works! The needs of all users were considered prior to the renovation and the results can be seen with the areas being accessible, user-friendly -- and receiving outstanding reviews.
We appreciate everyone’s patience during the construction. If you haven’t seen the improvements, we invite you to visit Arlington Park for a swim or other recreational activities, including these two upcoming family-friendly events:
Aqua Egg Hunt
Arlington Park Pool
Saturday, April 2 – 1 p.m.
Hounds on the Hunt
Arlington Park Paw Park
Thursday, April 14 – 5:30 p.m.
For information, please call 941-263-6732 or visit LetsPlaySarasota.com
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Wondering what’s coming up at our Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall?
Steve Solomon’s award-winning show has been met with rave reviews and great audience acclaim throughout the country, becoming one of the longest-running one-man shows in Broadway history. Once again, we meet the people that we’re all too familiar with — the family members that make you remember why you left home in the first place. It’s a laugh-filled fest of everybody you know, have known, and some you’d want to forget, but can’t — all brought to life on stage at the Van Wezel on Monday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m.
Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G is coming to the Van Wezel on Tuesday, April 5! He is one of the all-time best-selling artists with global sales totaling more than 75 million records and 1.5 billion streams. The jazz icon has also accumulated a staggering 24 award nominations throughout his almost 50-year career and has taken home a Grammy Award, American Music Award, NAACP Award, and two Soul Train Music Awards. His top-selling studio albums include Duotones, Sihouette, Breathless, Miracles: The Holiday Album, Brazilian Nights and Heart and Soul, all of which have maintained a high level of creative excellence through decades of unprecedented commercial success.
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For more information, visit VanWezel.org Hope to see you at the Van Wezel soon!
The Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller is focusing on driver license reinstatement through a special statewide initiative called Operation Green Light.
Florida law requires the Clerk’s office to turn over unpaid traffic tickets to an outside collection agency if they are not paid in 90 days. With agency fees sometimes as high as 30%, it can be expensive to catch up. Operation Green Light allows those exorbitant collection fees to be waived for individuals who pay their court obligations in full or register for a monthly payment plan. The idea is to save money on fees and get back on the road! Eligible candidates will have their suspended or revoked license reinstated for a fee.
In Sarasota, individuals can participate in Operation Green Light Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the historic courthouse, 2000 Main Street.
More information is available at SarasotaClerk.com
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