Questions about Seattle's bike share program answered

SEATTLE — Seattle’s bike share program, Pronto! Cycle Share, launched Monday at 1 p.m.

Q: How much does it cost?

Annual memberships are $85, a 24-hour pass is $8, and a three-day pass is $16. Other options for low-income residents are in the works. Helmets are $2, or $1.50 for members.

Q: How long do I have the bike for, once I've borrowed it?

30 minutes. If you keep it longer, you’ll be charged.

Q: What happens if I doesn't return it?

The credit card swiped when the bike was borrowed will be charged for the full amount of the bike: $1,200.

Q: Are the shared helmets cleaned?

Yup. They’re sanitized after every use. Right now, you borrow one that’s been cleaned and wrapped, and you drop it back off in a bin when you return the bike. By next year, the helmets will be dispensed from a vending machine.

Q: How do I lock it up when I stop at a coffee shop or grocery store?

You have to have your own lock. But Pronto! told KIRO 7 they discourage you locking the bike anywhere besides their docking stations. There are a lot of stations, so they hope you’ll just return it to a station close to where you need to make a stop. That way more people can use them. The idea is to use them just for short trips.

Q: What if someone steals the bike from me?

Pronto! told KIRO 7 they’ll work with you on a case-by-case basis. The bikes are made so the individual parts can’t be taken apart and resold or put into another bike. So the incentive to steal them for parts should be small.

KIRO