Free, first-year bike share memberships now available

UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are launching a new TravelSmart benefit to provide a free, first-year bike share membership to students, faculty and staff with med center email addresses.

Bike sharing systems allow members to easily unlock, ride and return bikes and electric pedal-assist bikes at a network of docking stations around the city. Omaha’s bike share system, Heartland B-cycle, features about 70 stations throughout the city.

Because there are a limited number of free Heartland B-cycle memberships available, interested students, faculty and staff should sign up as soon as possible — first via TravelSmart and then through the Heartland B-cycle app using a special promo code. Detailed instructions for how to sign up for the free membership are provided below and also on the LiveGreen TravelSmart website.

Please note that new members will be required to input credit card information but will not be charged except in the event that they check out a bike for longer than 60 minutes. The med center program covers all costs associated with trips under one hour. Heartland B-cycle will never auto-renew the membership by charging the card on file.

How to sign up for a free Heartland B-cycle membership:

1. Regardless of status as either an existing TravelSmart program user or new participant, people must register for TravelSmart and choose the option for bicycle and any other offerings.
2. Once registered for TravelSmart, participants will receive a confirmation email containing a special promo code.
3. On the Heartland B-cycle website or app, follow the instructions to register for an annual membership. When prompted, enter the appropriate UNMC or Nebraska Medicine email address and the special code from the TravelSmart confirmation email.
4. Input credit card information. (See note above.)
5. Download the Heartland B-cycle app or use the website to find nearby docking stations. The number on each blue icon is the number of bikes currently available at that station. If the blue icon has a lightning bolt, there is currently an electric bike available.