New bike share program cruises onto Virginia Tech campus

2 Aug 2018

Roam NRV bike share at Virginia Tech — There are currently 12 bike stations in the new Roam NRV bike share network with eight of them on the Virginia Tech campus.

Students, commuters, and campus visitors alike now have a fresh way to get around thanks to Roam NRV, a new bike share program launched through a regional partnership among Virginia Tech, Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and Montgomery County.

There are currently 12 bike stations in the network with eight on the Virginia Tech campus. Seventy-five bikes are in circulation with plans to expand in the future.

The inaugural Roam NRV group ride from the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg to Market Square Park in Blacksburg took place on Aug. 1, culminating in a special kick-off ceremony with Blacksburg Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith and a sea of riders donning orange.

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More than 55 percent of the Virginia Tech campus population currently uses alternative transportation methods, such as bicycles, to commute to and from the university, and those numbers continue to grow, according to the Alternative Transportation Department. The Roam NRV partnership expands Virginia Tech’s alternative transportation offerings and serves as a convenient and environmentally friendly link to the greater Blacksburg and Christiansburg community and Huckleberry Trail.

“Since Roam NRV’s launch on campus, we’re already seeing daily growth in usage across campus, from Burruss to the Duck Pond Lot. We’re proud to be part of this regional approach to bike share and are looking forward to seeing the program grow,” Parking and Transportation Director Jeri Baker said.

How it works

To access a bike, riders will first need to download the SoBi mobile app, select Blacksburg from the location list, and create an account. Riders will then enter their account number and PIN to unlock a bike. Bikes can be returned to any Roam NRV dock in the area, and riders can check bike availability ahead of time using the mobile app. Roam NRV offers flexible pricing and timing options, along with unlimited daily, monthly, and yearly memberships.

Current Roam NRV locations on campus: