Do other cities have “Yellow Bikes”?
What do the bikes look like?
Is there a cost?
What do I do with the lock and cable?
What if there is a mechanical problem?
Where do I put the bike when I am finished with it?
How can I contribute to this great effort?
Is Yellow Bikes a 501c3 nonprofit?
What is the Lexington Yellow Bikes Launch Date?
Who are the Founding Sponsors?
Who are the Lexington Yellow Bikes Board of Directors?
How do you contact Lexington Yellow Bikes?
Who is the Public Relations contact for Lexington Yellow Bikes?
Do other cities have “Yellow Bikes”?
Although new to Lexington in 2007, this concept has flourished for years in many other progressive cities including Austin TX, Minneapolis MN, and Portland OR.
What do the bikes look like?
In many of these other cities, the “yellow bike” fleet has been made up of discarded or refurbished bikes made from surplus parts found around town. However, this often led to a fleet of bikes where “no two bikes were exactly the same”, leading to significant issues with maintenance and repair.
Therefore, Downtown Lexington’s Yellow Bike fleet is made up entirely of brand new bicycles, all painted a bright “taxi yellow”. Each bike also has a basket on the front, so members can carry purses, bags or important documents to and from meetings in the downtown area.
Although it is more expensive to start a fleet with brand new bikes than with refurbished ones, we feel the maintenance and repair costs will be significantly less in the long run. Additionally, our members can take comfort in knowing that they will be riding an identical model bike every single time, regardless of which specific bike in the fleet they happen to be riding on a given day.
Downtown Lexington Corporation
101 E. Vine St.
Suite 500
859-425-2590 or 859-425-2008
Thursday Night Live
Cheapside Park next to the Old Courthouse
5pm – 7pm every Thursday night
June – August
Artist's Market
250 West Main St.
8am - 12pm Every Saturday Morning
June - August
Is there a cost?
Yellow Bikes members pay a one-time fee of $10. However, individual members of the Downtown Lexington Corporation will receive a complimentary one year membership to Lexington Yellow Bikes.
Members who lose their membership card must pay a $10 replacement fee for a new card.
To check out a bike, participants must provide a MasterCard or Visa number at the time of registration and will be responsible for the cost of replacement or repair in the event it is lost, stolen, or damaged, up to $300.
Go to one of our participating check-out sites. Currently these locations include Natasha's Bistro & Bar, Third Street Stuff and the High St. YMCA.
All of our Yellow Bikes should be locked at all times. Therefore, if you are already a Yellow Bikes member, simply go inside the check-out location and show a photo ID, give them your Yellow Bikes ID Card in exchange for a key and enjoy your Yellow Bike for up to three hours.
If you are not yet a Yellow Bikes member, simply go to one of our sign up locations mentioned above to complete the quick and easy process of becoming a member.
Please keep the lock with the bike at all times! A good place to store the lock while riding is in the basket on the front of the bike.
Lexington’s Yellow Bikes are intended to be used in the general Downtown area. However, you may enjoy your bike anywhere you can pedal within three hours.
What if there is a mechanical problem?
If the bike you are riding has a mechanical problem, or if you see a bike with a mechanical problem, please call the Yellow Bikes office at 859-425-2008 or 859-859-2590. to report it. Please mention the bike number (each bike will have a sticker listing a unique identification number), the location of the bike, and the nature of the problem.
Where do I put the bike when I am finished with it?
You must return your bike to the same location where you checked it out. Don't forget to exchange your key for your Yellow Bike ID Card. Please take into account the hours of operation of the check-out location. You are responsible for the bike as long as you have the key and the check-out location has your ID card.
As mentioned above, if you experienced or noticed any mechanical problems with the bike, simply call the Yellow Bikes phone number listed on the bike so that we may make the necessary repairs.
How can I contribute to this great effort?
If you would like to contribute cash or volunteer your time, please contact Phil Holoubek at 859.225.3476. We have varying sponsorship levels that will allow you to sponsor a bike, specific repair parts, or even an entire fleet!
Is Yellow Bikes a 501c3 nonprofit?
Not currently; however, we are in the process of applying for our nonprofit status with the IRS. Once a determination is made we will update this information on our website.
Launch Date
June 2009
2007 Founding Sponsors - Cash Contributions
BB&T
Epic Design and Construction
Gray Construction
Main & Rose Lofts
Nunn Building Lofts
South Hill Group
2007 Founding Sponsors - In Kind Contributions
Downtown Lexington Corporation
Pedal Power
Smiley Pete Publishing
Board of Directors
Holoubek, Phil – Lexington’s Real Estate Company
Jackson, Renee - Downtown Lexington Corporation
Lawless, Diane - Community volunteer
Tedder, Shane - University of Kentucky
Flowers, Brad - Community Volunteer
Yellow Bikes Contact Information
Yellow Bikes
PO Box 1179
Lexington, KY 40588-1179
859.425.2008
Phil Holoubek- 859-225-3476
