Aspen originated bike-sharing service WE-cycle has reached a milestone with its expansion into Carbondale. The announcement comes in collaboration with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and the town of Carbondale, fulfilling a vision that had been part of a 2018 public voting measure.

The expansion is being ushered in by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave. A celebration will take place afterward at KDNK, featuring live music, food vendors, games and more.

“We started in Aspen in 2013 and we’ve been expanding ever since,” WE-cycle Program Manager Annie Bricker said. “And now, due to a partnership with RFTA as well as work with the town of Carbondale, we’ve been able to finally expand into Carbondale.”

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The expansion means that the valley now boasts 420 bikes and 81 stations in Aspen, Basalt, Willits, El Jebel, Snowmass Village and Carbondale.

Of the total, 80 bikes and 17 stations will be located in Carbondale, enhancing the community’s connectivity. WE-cycle’s user-friendly model allows riders to check out a bike from one station and return it to another. As long as trips are kept under 30 minutes, the ride is completely free.

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“Our goal is that people are going to be using bikes to get around town, get to the bus stop and go see a friend and do so without hopping in their car and enjoying a less polluting form of transportation,” Bricker said. “To check out a bike and ride for under 30 minutes is free so it’s a great way to get where you need to go.”

Late fees apply after 30 minutes, with pedal bikes costing 50 cents a minute and e-bikes $5 a minute. This fee structure encourages shorter, transit-oriented trips.

“The reason behind that fee structure and that pricing structure is meant to incentivize shorter trips, and again those transit-oriented trips,” Bricker said.

The Carbondale expansion signifies a realization of the public’s vision back in 2018, when a voting measure included bike-sharing as part of the future expansion of public transportation.

“The idea is that looking forward, we’ll be able to expand WE-cycle further down the valley into Glenwood and grow all of our systems as much as funding allows and financial and jurisdictional support allows as well,” Bricker said.

Bricker said she views this new expansion as a significant victory for public transportation in the region.

“For now, this is a big win for the community, for public transportation in the region, for connecting folks around this area,” Bricker said, highlighting the efforts of local authorities, funding partners and RFTA in making the expansion a reality.