David here. 👋 Last Tuesday, I joined the Blue Bike SC group ride from Segra Park in the BullStreet District to A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen for the Meat Less. Bike More. campaign.

This month-long campaign of group bike rides encourages Soda Citizens to explore downtown Columbia via Blue Bike, enjoy plant-based meals at local restaurants, and realize their positive impacts on the environment. They’re also rewarding participants with some great prizes. Here’s a look at what the ride looked like + how you can hop on and Try This.

What we tried (with pricing):

Before I arrived at the Bull Street - Segra Park station for my group ride, I made sure to download the Blue Bike SC app so I could easily unlock my bike with my phone. Both non-electric and electric bikes are available, but the extra zip of the electric adds a little fun to the ride. It’s free to join the group rides this month. Have a bike of your own? Feel free to join the ride with your bike.

Before taking off on our cruise through Cottontown to A Peace of Soul, we got a “Meat Less. Bike More.” t-shirt and a raffle ticket to win a $50 restaurant gift card, Annual Blue Bike pass, helmet, apron, bike light, and t-shirt.

Blue Bike SC bikes fill the docking station at the Bull Street - Segra Park location. | Photo by the COLAtoday team

Did you know the Blue Bike app includes an interactive map highlighting local restaurants + lets you know how many calories you burned on your ride?

An Annual Pass for Blue Bike is on sale for $48.60 during the month of April. Blue Bike SC just launched a new 2 Hour Pass that allows for two hours of riding. Pro tip: You can use the secondary lock located in the basket for intermediate stops.

Easily unlock a bike via the app, and you’ll be on your way. | GIF by the COLAtoday team

What not to miss:

Meat Less. Bike More. is a wonderful opportunity to explore Columbia’s downtown area by bicycle and try a plant-based meal from participating restaurants.

Cruising through Cottontown on an electric Blue Bike. | Photo by the COLAtoday team

What we’re still talking about:

The convenience of the Blue Bike SC docking stations around downtown offers Soda Citizens the opportunity to explore different areas and keep up with your environmental impact + calories burned through the app. Also, how cool is the interactive map?

The interactive app displays participating restaurants and docking stations. | Image by the COLAtoday team

How you can experience this:

Join in on one of the following free group rides:

Where to meet: Main & Gervais Blue Bike station | Mon., April 25 | 4:30 p.m. | Good Life Café | RSVP
Where to meet: Main & Gervais Blue Bike station | Mon., May 2 | 12 p.m. | Enzo’s Delicatessen | RSVP
Where to meet: Five Points - Saluda Avenue Blue Bike station | Tues., May 10 | 5:30 p.m.| Il Giorgione | RSVP

Group ride participants at A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen. | Photo by the COLAtoday team

Can’t make it to one of the group rides? Post a picture of your bike and plant-based meal before Sun., May 15, use the hashtag #MeatLessBikeMoreSC, and follow both @LetsMeatLess and @BlueBikeSC on Instagram or Twitter. You’ll be entered into a drawing where five winners will receive a $25 restaurant gift card, Annual Blue Bike pass, helmet, apron, bike light, and t-shirt.

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Join a Blue Bike SC + Let’s Meat Less group bike ride
Price: Group ride participants ride free during the campaign
Website: https://bluebikesc.com/news/detail/meatlessbikemore
Address: 18 Blue Bike Stations around Columbia
Hours: Group ride times + locations
Social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram*

Don’t forget to return your Blue Bike to a station once your ride is complete. | GIF by the COLAtoday team