Bublr Bikes offering FREE 30-minute rides on election day: "We want to make it as easy as possible"

MILWAUKEE -- It's a way to beat traffic -- and avoid a long walk to the polls. Bublr Bikes is offering unlimited, free rides of up 30 minutes on election day -- Tuesday, November 8th, to help people get to the polls.

James Davies

"The main reason we're doing it is just to encourage people to get out and vote," said James Davies, Bublr Bikes' acting executive director.

To get a free Bublr Bikes ride, users should enter the code “1776” at any Bublr Bikes station. The code is valid for individual free rides of up to 30 minutes all day Tuesday. A free ride ends when the Bublr is returned to a Bublr Bikes station.

Individual rides over 30 minutes will cost $3 for each additional 30 minutes. Riders wanting to return from voting by Bublr can take additional individual rides under 30 minutes for free Tuesday using the “1776” code.

“Bublr Bikes are a fast, simple and – this year – free way to get to neighborhood polling places on election day. We want to make it as easy as possible for people in Milwaukee to get out and vote," said Davies.

Bublr Bikes

A credit card is required to check out a Bublr Bikes bicycle with or without the code, although users won’t be charged Tuesday for rides under 30 minutes if they enter the code.

Thirteen of Bublr Bikes' 57 stations are located within two blocks of a polling location. Other polling locations are also conveniently served by other Bublr Bikes stations.

"We've got lots of stations. Hillside is less than 0.1 miles away from a polling location, just right on the other side of the block," said Davies.

Bublr Bikes

Bublr's busiest day on record was the Fourth of July, 2016. Bublr Bikes officials are not expecting this election day to top that. However, they are going to be prepared to re-stock the bikes when they see empty slots.

"We have a big monitor where we can watch all the stations and we can see how many bikes there are, and how many docks there are," said Davies.

Bublr Bikes

Bublr officials said you'll miss out on traffic or parking headaches if you choose to bike. But the election day offer is about more than convenience.

"We're in the community. It is important to us. We think democracy works best when more people participate," said Davies.

A complete list of Bublr Bikes stations can be found HERE.

Below is a list of Bublr Bikes stations located within two blocks of a polling location: