By the Numbers: Pittsburgh's New Bike-Share Program

Healthy Ride will officially launch in Market Square with a mass ride to Lawrenceville.

The long-awaited Healthy Ride bike-share program debuted Sunday, May 31 at 8 am. in Market Square. 

Here’s a look at the new bike-share program, by the numbers:

500   Bikes available for rental
365   Days of the year kiosks will be in operation
50     Kiosks where bikes can be picked up or dropped off
11     Participating neighborhoods, including downtown, Oakland, North Side, South Side and Shadyside. Riders can rent a bike in one station and any station of their choosing.
$24   Cost of a 24-hour rental
$20   Cost for a month for unlimited 60-minute rentals
$16   Cost of a four-hour rental
$12   Cost a month for unlimited 30-minute rentals
$8     Cost of a two-hour rental
7       Number of gears on each bike
$4     Cost of a one-hour rental
$2     Cost of a half-hour rental
$1     Cost of registering for the service (requires a Visa or Mastercard)
0      Helmets provided (riders are encouraged to bring their own)

The bikes feature wide tires and well-padded seats, a storage rack, fenders, front and rear lights and low frames for easy on and off.

Each bike is equipped with cable locks that can be used if you want to park other than a kiosk during your rental. Each bike also has a GPS tracker in the event it disappears.

If you want to roll out with a mini-armada of other riders, Pittsburgh Bike Share is holding a launch celebration at Market Square, with the bikes open for rental at 7:30 a.m. After a pump-up talk from Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald at 8 a.m., you’ll spin off to Pittsburgh Bike Share’s new office in Lawrenceville.

To learn more or to register, visit the HealthyRidePgh website.

––Richard Cook

photo courtesy of point park university

#InMemoriam: Point Park's Playhouse will honor Ron Tassone

A longtime professor and renowned choreographer will be honored at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on Sunday.

Ron Tassone, who taught dance at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts for years — beginning in 1974 — and established the jazz major within the school’s dance program, died in February at age 76.

He’ll be honored with a commemoration service at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 31, in the Rockwell Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. A reception will follow. (RSVPs requested at 412/392-6102.)

Tassone choreographed more than 25 jazz dance works for Point Park and worked on musicals at venues across the country. He was known for his work on Broadway as well as television and film.

––Lauren Davidson