All Over Albany

There's a discount on CDPHP Cycle bike share memberships right now

The next season of the bike share operated by CDTA -- CDPHP Cycle -- is lined up to start later this spring. And the service is offering early bird pricing.

A season membership is currently $65 through April 19. After that the price increases $20. The membership includes 60 minutes of free bike use per day, so if you think you'll be using the bikes often, this could save you a few bucks.*

The base price for using a bike without a seasonal pass is $5 per hour (prorated to the minute), with an "out of hub" fee of $2 and a "brought to hub" bonus of $1. (The bikes don't have to returned to a hub. The electronic tech for the renting the bikes is on the bikes themselves, and they're equipped with GPS.)

In addition to the season pass, there's a $15 monthly membership that includes 60 minutes of time each day. And there are also student rates, which are half the typical price at each level.

By the way: The "out of system area" fee this season will be $100. (It was $25 in 2017.)

The bike share started up for the first time here in late July last year in the Capital Region four core cities. And it exceeded the membership goals CDTA had, signing up 2,467 members during the short season.

The transit org is aiming to start the new season in late spring (depending on weather) with double the number of bikes (320 vs. 160) and more than 20 additional (yet to be announced) rack locations.

* Another way of thinking about this is that a seasonal membership -- with the hour of free riding each day -- just makes it something you don't really have to think about. Just hop on a bike and go. That might lower the barrier if you're thinking about trying to change how you get around town.

Earlier: What's next for the CDPHP Cycle bike share