A smartphone app developed as a public health project will help newcomers and visitors to Durango find their way around on bicycles, says Joey Ernst, owner of Velorution Cycles, which co-sponsored the app.
The My City Bikes app came online this month. It has information for those looking for the best ways to ride around town, as well as some basic road and mountain bike rides.
It also has information and local tips for lowlanders such as: “If you’re not from the mountains, take it easy on the climbs – things will feel a little more difficult here!”
Ernst said he was contacted by communications firm NMCM Global about the project, which now includes apps for seven other U.S. cities, all much larger than Durango. Three other cities are being developed, according to the My City Bikes website.
The idea is to provide a mobile resource that encourages cycling, according to the site. People can promote “physical and environmental health by simply pedaling a bike.”
Ernst said his bike shop, at 1077 Main Ave., spent about $1,000 on development of the app. Velorution gave advice on which routes to include and helped out with local insight, such as this for East Third Avenue: “This boulevard has a nice bike lane in both directions. Just look out for car doors opening into your lane!”
The apps are available for Apple, Android and Windows devices, according to a news release from NMCM Global.
“We’re always happy to talk to people in person, but not everybody is going to step in our shop,” Ernst said.
Ernst emphasized that the app provides just a basic look at some standard routes and is not intended to be comprehensive.
“The concept sounds cool. We’ll see how it works,” Ernst said. “If we can get more bikes out there, that’s what I want to see.”
johnp@durangoherald.com
To download app
To get the My City Bikes app, visit durango.mycitybikes.org and find the Durango link to the app.
