Chicago-based Bike and Roll has been selected as operator of the new Bike, Mobility and Visitors Center at Cincinnati Riverfront Park, scheduled to open this fall.

Operating locally under the name Bike and Park, the company will provide bicycles for rent, as well as other gear including strollers, children's bikes, carriages, and safety equipment. It will also provide services like bike repair and bike storage and will sell bike-related retail items and pre-packaged refreshments.

In business since 1993, Bike and Roll is one of America's leading bicycle rental and tour companies, providing similar services at Chicago's Navy Pier and Millennium Park Bicycle Station; Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco; the National Mall and Union Station in Washington, DC; Miami Beach; and Hudson River Park in New York City.

"Bike and Park enjoys an outstanding national reputation for industry leadership and service excellence," said Willie F. Carden, Jr., director of Cincinnati Parks. "Beyond that, they are a 'green' company that has been actively involved with community-based clean transportation solutions."

The company will furnish the center and pay rent and operating costs, helping to fund operating costs of the park.

A portion of the 45-acre Cincinnati Riverfront Park, the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Stage and Event Lawn, opens in May. The Walnut Street Fountain and Steps is scheduled to open late this summer.

Other features in Phase I of the park will begin opening between this fall and early 2012, including the 1,100-seat Moerlein Lager House restaurant and beer garden, a labyrinth, a bike trail, donor wall and promenade, a monument to the Black Brigade of Cincinnati, tree groves, and gardens.

Previous reading on BC:
Latest riverfront park video details event lawn, fountain (3/8/11)
New video released for riverfront park (8/19/10)
Megen wins $4.9M contract for riverfront park (7/20/10)
Moerlein Lager House: One year 'til beer (7/14/10)
Lease agreement, development team set for Moerlein Lager House (6/30/10)