Marymoor Park houses DASANI "Blue Bikes" program

2005 Archived News
King County Executive Ron Sims, DASANI, Rails to Trails Conservancy, local supporters and cyclists kicked off the DASANI "Blue Bikes" community bicycle program at Marymoor Park on Wednesday, August 17. King County residents now have free access to 20 brand new Trek Cruiser Classic bicycles to ride on some of the regions most beautiful trails at no cost.

"King County is proud to have been chosen as one of only eight entities to participate in the DASANI Blue Bike Program nationwide," said Sims. "The Sammamish River Trail and Marymoor Park provide a great place for people to try this new and innovative program and get out and enjoy one of the nation’s best regional trail systems."

DASANI "Blue Bikes" will be housed in specially designed storage lockers located next to Group Health Velodrome in Marymoor Park, giving residents free access, seven days a week. People can take part in the program by registering for a "Blue Bikes" card at the King County Parks and Recreation office in Marymoor Park. Cyclists simply pass the card through the reader at a "Blue Bikes" locker to remove a bike, and return it at the end of their ride.

Generating revenue by increasing park amenities is one of the creative solutions King County is pursuing to keep parks open and well maintained. Through the county’s entrepreneurial program, King County has created successful new ventures like the DASANI "Blue Bikes" program at Marymoor Park and has focused on partnerships as a way to enhance recreation while limiting costs.

King County manages 25,389 acres of parks, pools, open space, natural land and trails. This includes 68 baseball fields, 61 soccer fields, four pools, 88 picnic areas, 34 playgrounds, 27 tennis courts, 13 boat launch sites, more than 175 miles of trails, six fishing piers, four community gardens, a climbing rock, the area's best off leash dog park and the world class Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.