Pronto Cycle Share stations will begin to pop up in Seattle

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Station installation begins this week!

Pronto Cycle Share announced on Wednesday that installation begins this week for the system’s 50 docking stations, as they prepare to launch Seattle’s bike share system on October 13. 

Pronto and its operator, Alta Bike Share, will continue installing stations across Seattle as the launch nears. 

University District, Eastlake, South Lake Union, Belltown, Downtown, Pioneer Square, the International District, Capitol Hill and First Hill will be the first connected to the system, with 500 bikes at 50 docking stations. 

"Excitement is really building now that we’re just weeks from launching bike share in Seattle... as stations are installed, our growing list of members will start to see exactly how bike share will fit into their transportation routine." - Holly Houser, executive director of Pronto Cycle Share

With bike share cities like Washington, D.C. and New York City seeing substancial gains in overall bike mode share, we are thrilled that Pronto's launch is just around the corner. We are excited to witness how this new transit system will improve access to bicycling. 

Helmet-distribution 
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Pronto's preliminary helmet design

As Seattle joins the ranks of bike share cities in the U.S., it will stand out as the only city with an all-ages mandatory helmet law. Stations will feature an interim helmet-distribution solution that provides a rental helmet from self-serve bins free of charge to users. 
Self-serve? I gave Pronto a call to confirm. 

Yes, that's right, this method of helmet-distribution "does not prevent non-members from taking one," said Houser. 

So even without a membership, anyone theoretically could snag a helmet from the self-serve bin. Thousands of helmets have been ordered and Houser says they have taken into account there will be some losses. 

In 2015, an automated vending machine will replace the self-serve bins, dispensing helmets for a small fee.

Don't worry, germaphobes. Pronto says they will sanitize and inspect each helmet after every use and redistribute them to stations throughout the city so helmets are always available. 

And for those who don't want to share - ahem, helmets that is - you can become an annual member. Annual members will receive a voucher to redeem a free Pronto helmet from REI and other participating retail locations

Learn more about Pronto Cycle Share.

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