Fort Worth is the largest certified Blue Zones Community® in the country. Each month we talk to a different member of our community about how they experience well-being in their neighborhood. This month’s featured guest is Shawn Tubré, avid bicyclist and Director of Fort Worth Bike Sharing at Trinity Metro, Fort Worth’s public transit authority.

Q: You’ve been a Fort Worth resident for about two decades, and you know your way around the city on two wheels as well as four.

A: When I took this position about six months ago, they hired me based on my knowledge of the city. Fort Worth is actually one of the more friendly big cities for cyclists than most cities. People are good at leaving space around bikers here, being patient, and going around us safely.

Q: It seems very forward-thinking for Trinity Metro to include bikes along with buses and the Zip Zone.

A: We’ve had a bike sharing system since 2013! Earth Day, April 22, was our 10^th anniversary. I am a fan of both the bike sharing and Zip Zone in terms of micro-mobility.

Q: Talk about what micro-mobility means.

A: It’s another piece of vital public transportation infrastructure. It’s transportation for those who don’t have the means to drive or don’t want to drive. The hope is that the bike can take you from your apartment to the doctors, to the grocery store, maybe to the bus or train station so you don’t have to rely on a car.

Q: Ten years in, the system has bikes as far south as La Gran Plaza, as far east as Texas Wesleyan’s campus and Gateway Park, as far north as Diamond Hill, and as far west as Waterside. What’s next?

A: We would like to build on Rosedale Ave. as Rosedale builds out. We want Fort Worth Bike Sharing to be there as it happens, especially those areas that aren’t used to seeing us around. When I took this position six months ago, I wanted to serve the people who don’t have access to alternative transportation with stations throughout the city accessible to everyone.

Q: So Bike Sharing is not just about puttering down the Trinity Trails. You envision a way for people to use the bikes actively like they would use any form of transit. Is this alternative public transportation or is it recreation?

A: The great thing about Bike Sharing is that we’re about protecting people’s health. We just want people on bikes. We don’t care whether it’s serious transportation or recreation – just bring the bike back! I love seeing people biking to the train station and docking our bike and getting on a train.

Q: Let’s talk about the logistics. Riders check out a bike for 24 hours, but you must dock the bike at a station every two hours?

A: We have 64 stations, and 373 bikes people can rent. If you want to move more, we have classic bikes. If you need a little help, about a third of the bikes are pedal-assist electric bikes. A day pass is $10 and allows 24 hours on our bikes — just dock every two hours, then take it out again. For $100 a year, you can enjoy unlimited two-hour trips. And on Free First FriYays – the first Friday of every month — you can ride for free, courtesy of our partnership with Blue Zones Project!

Q: You often see in cities like Austin where people have discarded their micro-mobility scooters in the middle of the sidewalk.

A: This is why we require the bike to be docked. You can pull it right back out but you have to check it in. Otherwise, it would be bike giving, not bike sharing!

Q: The 10^th anniversary of Bike Sharing was in April, and now May is National Bike Month.

A: We celebrate by helping people move more naturally. I’ve always been a big fan, because we’re using human fuel vs man-made fuel. I’m so impressed that we’ve started small and have had such tremendous growth through our first 10 years. The people who came before me did a great job of creating this growth!

Q: Tell us about Tour de Fort Worth – if you can get to all 64 stations in 24 hours you win some swag?

A: Yes, but everything takes planning! Don’t just hop on the bike. My recommendation is that you map before you ride so you know the best possible route to hit all those stations.

Q: You can also earn swag for spotting the painted bicycles with the program called FWbikesy?

A: It’s our Art Bike initiative. When I came on board, local artist Gerald Bell had painted 13 of our classic frames in his style. We launched two of those bikes into the wild, and we’re launching another bike each month. If you take a picture of yourself with the painted bike and tag @fwbikesharing and #fwbikesy, you’ll get some really cool swag.

Find a Bike Sharing station near you and pedal your way across Fort Worth the fun way. And don’t forget Free First Fri-YAY on the first Friday of every month.

For more information about Blue Zones Project, visit LiveLongFortWorth.com