No Bike, No Problem: Bike Rental by River May Soon Be Possible

UPDATED June 11, 12:23 p.m. - The contract was approved during the May 30 meeting.

Local residents could soon rent and ride bicycles down by the Chattahoochee River, if the approves signing a contract with at tonight's meeting.

"This is something our parks and recreation department has been wanting to do for a while," said Roswell City Councilman Jerry Orlans, who is the department liaison.

The 925-B Riverside Road home at Don White Memorial Park, deeded to the city, was decided upon as the best place for the potential new business. Roswell Bicycles responded to an RFP and was considered the most suitable operator to run it, according to Orlans.

If approved, Roswell Bicycles will renovate the house in order to rent bikes, sell cycling gear and concessions from the location.

Orlans believes business will keep around 30 bicycles on-hand to rent.

"They've said they'll have different kinds of bicycles available; anything from street bikes to the family style bikes you see at the beach," he said.

The city will receive a five percent cut of sales made by Roswell Bicycles through the venture. The ten-year contract, to be approved by the council, requires a minimum of $1,500 and a maximum of $2,000 to be turned over to the city each month.

While the possibility of bike rentals is poised to draw even more locals to the river, no one is really sure what the earning potential is for Roswell Bicycles at this point. However, the new business increases the local quality of life and is just one more reason Orlans believes Roswell should look into the possibility of adding more bike routes and Big Creek Greenway trail connections in the future.

---

Other Council Agenda Items

-The city will also hold the final hearing for the .

The Roswell City Council will meet tonight, Wednesday, May 30, at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second floor at city hall, 38 Hill Street. The meeting was rescheduled from its usual Monday time due to the Memorial Day holiday.