How do I use Sprocket?
Sprocket is designed to work on any smart phone or device. It has 4 primary features- comfort based curated routes with turn by turn navigation through the midlands, fun rides if you are just looking for some exercise and looking for a new route, Featured rides for when there is something cool going on and you want to know how to get there, and finally a map to show you where all the repair stands are, Blue Bikes docks are, bike racks for locking up, and bicycle friendly businesses. To use the navigation, simply click “Near Me” and choose your starting location. You will have a series of connected routes with a comfort level assigned to them, choose wherever you would like to go and then click “Let’s Go!”
“Fun Rides” has a selection of routes ranging from rides on the Riverwalk to Brewery tour routes. These are all great ways to just get out and experience the Midlands.
“Featured Rides” are a lot like fun rides, but generally will be associated with a festival, happening, or other event. To best stay up to date with our Featured Rides sign up for the Sprocket Newsletter!
Our Map has all of the important bike infrastructure called out so you can find everything in just a few clicks! It has color coded icons for Blue Bike docks so you can use Columbia’s bike share easily, bike work stands, bike racks so you can lock up, and bike friendly businesses.
What does the comfort level mean?
We ranked our routes on a 1-5 comfort level based on over 30 years of combined commuting in Columbia. In addition to traffic, we also took in consideration hills as well as shaded streets! All routes incorporate greenways, bike lanes, or shadows when possible. The general breakdown follows:
1: “6-60” route. This means it is a route safe enough for ‘anyone from 6 to 60 years old”. These are the Golden Standard as to what all bike infrastructure should be. There are very few 1s in Columbia, but most of our fun rides are 1.
2: These are routes that are mostly in neighborhoods, relatively flat, well shaded, and very few cars.
3: These are a combination of surface streets, neighborhoods, and may have rolling hills. These roads are still considered tirtiary roads with lighter car traffic.
4: These routes are going to be pretty direct, not accounting for hills, but still avoid all major roads when possible.
5: These routes are for the most advanced cyclist. These are the most direct routes from A to B. Even with these routes we avoid the most heavily driven roads in the Midlands whenever possible.
How do I use the bike repair stands?
Each bicycle repair station includes a tire pump and a series of basic repair tools that will get a standard cyclist back on their way quickly and safely. Each stand has a universal pump head that works on both Schrader and presta tubes.
What is the Blue Bike program?
The Blue Bike share system is structured to operate like automated bike rentals for short periods.
The structure encourages shorter, spontaneous trips where bikes are checked out, ridden for a short period of time and returned to any station in the system for someone else to use.
The system consists of a fleet of user-friendly and hardy bikes placed at conveniently located stations.
Bikes are a blend of traditional bikes combined with Pedelec (electric assist) bikes, allowing and encouraging use of all skill levels.
How do I get my business listed as a Bike Friendly Business?
Bikes are good for businesses and their employees. Through our Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB℠) program, employers are recognized for their efforts to encourage a more welcoming atmosphere for bicycling employees, customers and the community.
Apply to the program and see how bicycling can help your business create more energized, alert, and productive employees, decrease your healthcare costs, attract and retain top talent and draw more customers.