Bike sharing program available at three locations in Mercer County

The County of Mercer, the Mercer County Park Commission and Verve have launched a bike-share program now available to the public in the County Park System.

Bikes are located at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, at Rosedale Park in Pennington, and the Red Barn in Mercer Meadows, Lawrence Township.

Ten bikes are at each location and can be rented by downloading the Verve S app. Park patrons are encouraged to create a Verve account, where users can rent a bike from one the county’s three locations: Mercer County Park near the 9/11 Memorial, Mercer Meadows at Rosedale Park on Federal City Road, and at the Red Barn at Keefe and Cold Soil roads.

Users pay $1 for activation of the bike and 18 cents per minute. Riders must be 18 years or older to rent a bike.

Rentals must be returned to one of the three county park locations.

The bike-share program will allow park users, families and friends the opportunity to explore more in Mercer County, opening access throughout the park system and the Lawrence Hopewell Trail.

To celebrate the bike-share program, the Park Commission’s Environmental Education Department will be offering Bike Nature Tours from 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays, June 30, July 7 and 21, and Aug. 4, 11 and 18.

This guided nature tour is open to 10 people and costs $10 for in-county residents and $15 for out-of-county residents.

Participants are welcome to bring their own bike or take advantage of the bike rental program for an additional fee.

Riders ages 12-17 will need to bring their own helmets and bikes.

To register for this program, visit https://bit.ly/3xTgxKC

“With our experienced educators and naturalists, Bike Nature Tours will be a great introduction to our trails and natural areas throughout Mercer Meadows and the LHT,” Aaron T. Watson, Park Commission executive director, said in the statement. “We are excited to welcome Verve to the park system and encourage new and returning park users to take advantage of this amenity.”

Technical support regarding rentals and accessibility to bikes can be found on the Verve S app.

For up-to-date information on programming, recreation and events through the Mercer County Park Commission, visit www.mercercountyparks.org or follow the parks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.