A new way to explore all of Boise!

Electric bike share is here

Pay as you go

Day Pass

Monthly

General

• What is Vall-eBike?

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  Vall-eBike is an electric, pedal-assist bike share network, servicing the residents and visitors of Boise.

• What are pedal-assist e-bikes?

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  Pedal-assist e-bikes ride like any other bicycle. Use the pedals to get moving, and squeeze the brakes on the handlebars to slow or come to a stop. As you pedal, a small electric motor adds assistance to boost momentum, making it easier to go long distances or ride up steep climbs.

• What is the max speed of a Vall-eBike Bike?

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  Vall-eBikes can reach a maximum speed of about 16 miles per hour.

• I want to ride a Vall-eBike. How do I get started?

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  First, you need to download our app and create an account. The Vall-eBike app is available for Apple IOS and Android. Once you have downloaded the app you will just need to verify your phone number, enter your name, and email address and agree to the terms of service. Our app requires access to your phone's Bluetooth, locations and camera. We also recommend that you verify your email address so that you may receive email receipts of your trips.

• How do I book a Vall-eBike?

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  Once you set up your account, you can use the app to find and scan an available bike. The QR codes that you can use to scan and book your bike are located on the lock of the bike, as well as the small plate between the handlebars. When you scan a bike for the first time, you will need to select a rate plan, and add a credit or debit card to your account.

• How do I unlock a Vall-eBike?

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  After you’ve scanned the bike and started the trip, tap on the unlock button and the rear wheel lock will open. Be sure to secure the end loop of the lock tether to the hook under the bike seat to keep the tether from tangling in the rear spokes during your ride.

• Is there anything else I should do before riding a Vall-eBike?

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  Before beginning a trip, use the app to identify a convenient hub location to end your ride. All trips must end in a hub. If needed, you can adjust the seat height for comfort. Always be sure to test the brakes before going on your way and don’t forget to wear a helmet.

• How do I end my trip?

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  To end your trip, ride to your chosen hub and use the available racks to lock up your bike. Wrap the tether around the rack and insert the end loop into the wheel lock. Once the end loop is inserted, close the lock ring using the tab on the left side. The app will verify that you are within a hub, and that the bike is locked. Choose to end the trip in the app and you will be prompted to take a photo of the parked bike. Please make sure the photo is taken from the rear of the bike, clearly showing the tether wrapped around the rack and inserted in the closed wheel lock.

• How much does it cost to use a Vall-eBike?

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  Our standard rate is Pay as You Go. With this rate plan, you pay $1.00 to unlock the bike and 15-cents per minute for use.

  We also offer a Day Pass for $8. The Day Pass provides the user with 4 hours of ride time in a 24-hour period. There is no unlock fee associated with the Day Pass. If you exceed 4 hours of ride time you will be charged 15-cents per minute for use.

  The Monthly membership is $39 per month. These memberships include 60 minutes of free ride time per day and no unlock fees. If you go over your daily minutes you will be charged a prorated fee of 15-cents per minute. Please note that there is no roll over of unused daily free minutes.

  We will offer special pricing for individual and group members of our City Go program. Pricing is to be determined. Visit our website, RideValleBike.com for details as they become available.

  There will also be an Equity membership available for eligible riders experiencing financial hardship. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit our website, RideValleBike.com.

• What is a hub?

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  Hubs are officially designated parking areas that are highlighted on the service area map in the Vall-eBike app. All trips must end within a hub.

• What is the service area?

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  The service area is the bordered zone on the Vall-eBike App. Bikes stranded outside of the service area are subject to higher penalty fees.

• Can I ride Vall-eBikes on the sidewalks?

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  Vall-eBike strongly recommends against riding on the sidewalks. There are plenty of bike lanes and low-stress bikeways where the bikes can be ridden safely without posing a danger to pedestrians.

• Can I ride Vall-eBikes on the foothills trails?

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  No, we have specifically set the service area boundaries to exclude the foothills trails. The bikes are not designed for trail riding, and if we discover you have taken a bike on the foothills trails there can be penalty fees imposed.

• Do I have to wear a helmet?

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  Vall-eBike strongly recommends that riders wear a helmet.

• Is there a minimum age to ride a Vall-eBike?

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  All riders must be at least 16 years of age.

• Can I book more than one Vall-eBike at a time?

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  To help secure our network, only one bike can be checked out per rider. Any additional riders in your group will need to download the app on their phone to check out a bike.

• What if I have questions or issues?

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  You may contact us via help@RideValleBike.com or by tapping the “?” icon in the bottom right of the app.

Advanced

• How long does the boost last on a fully charged Vall-eBike?

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  Depending on the weight of the rider and elevation changes of the ride, the boost should last anywhere in between 30 to 40 miles.

• Do Vall-eBikes work when the battery loses its charge?

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  Vall-eBikes are designed to be ridden as a normal pedal bike should the boost run out. It is not as easy a ride without the pedal assist, but it will still get you around town.

• Can I make a mid trip stop outside of a hub?

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  Yes, just be sure to secure and lock the Vall-eBike to a bike rack but do not end the trip in the app. While the bike is locked, no one else can book the bike but you will be charged normal usage rates. After you have run your errand, choose to unlock the bike in the app to ride to your destination hub.

• Can I ride outside of the service area?

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  Yes, you can ride a Vall-eBike outside of the service area. However, you are responsible for returning the bike to a hub at the end of your trip, even if you run out of boost. Bikes stranded outside of the service area are subject to higher penalty fees.

• Why do I have to take a picture at the end of my trip?

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  We ask riders to take a picture at the end of their trip to ensure that the bike is properly secured to a bike rack and responsibly parked out of the public's right of way. Failing to take a picture at the end of a trip can result in penalty fees.

• Do I take a picture of the QR code at the end of my trip?

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  No, we do not want a picture of the QR code. Please take a photo from the rear of the bike clearly showing the tether wrapped around the bike rack and inserted in the closed wheel lock.

• Can I lock the bike without wrapping the tether around a bike rack?

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  No, you must always use the tether to secure the bike to a bike rack before locking. A bike left locked without the tether wrapped around a bike rack may be subject to penalty fees.

• How can I review my trip and membership charges?

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  To receive email receipts of trip and membership charges, you need to verify your email address.

• How do I verify my email address?

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  To verify your email address, tap on “Email verification” in the upper left corner of the app. Tap on “Send verification code”. The next screen will provide you with the field to enter the code. You will be sent an email verification code to the email address on file. Enter that code in the field provided in the app and moving forward you will receive trip receipts after each of your rides.

• How do I make changes to my membership status (opt in or opt out)?

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  To make changes to your membership, open our app and tap on your name in the upper left corner. This will pull up a sidebar of account options. Tap on “Memberships and Pricing”. From here, you can turn on or turn off auto renew or switch your membership plan. If you want to opt out of your current membership plan, just make sure auto renew is toggled to the off position.

• Are there other fees associated with use of Vall-eBike?

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  For Pay as You Go riders there is a $10 hold placed on credit or debit cards. These holds will be immediately released at the end of your trip, but it might take several days to appear on your credit card statement.

  There are also penalty fees that may be applied to your account for misuse of the service. The penalty fees listed below can also be found in the terms of service:

  • Bike stranded out of service area = $25.00
  • Bike stranded out of hub = $2.00
  • Bike improperly parked or no end of trip photo provided = $5.00
  • Bike left unlocked = $25.00
  • Stolen vehicle recovery = $200.00
  • Loss of bike due to theft or damage = $2,000.00

• Is there a minimum or maximum height?

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  With our adjustable seats, our bikes can be ridden comfortably by anyone between 5’ and 6’5”.”

• Is there a maximum weight limit?

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  We do not recommend riding our bikes if you exceed 250lbs.

Troubleshooting

• What do I do if the bike I book does not unlock?

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  Unlocking issues can be caused by spoke pressure on the lock or a connection error between the app and bike's lock. Should you have an issue unlocking a bike in the future, please do the following:

  • Make sure the wheel lock is not resting against one of the spokes on the rear tire. If it is, turn the rear wheel slightly to move the spoke away from the lock.
  • If the wheel lock is not resting against a spoke and the lock will not release after two attempts to unlock, end your trip. If the bike is locked and the trip is only a few minutes long, you will not be charged for the booking.
  • Attempt to re-book the bike, or if another bike is available nearby, book that one instead.

• What do I do if there is a mechanical issue with the bike?

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  Please report any mechanical issues with the bike to customer support by tapping on the “?” icon in the lower right corner or the app. If the mechanical issue makes the bike unsafe to ride, please lock the bike to the nearest available bike rack and notify support. Please note, the loss of pedal assistance is not a mechanical issue.

• What do I do if the bike loses pedal assistance?

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  Fortunately, our bikes are designed to be ridden as regular pedal bikes. If you do not wish to continue your trip without pedal assistance, ride to the nearest hub to end your trip and locate a new bike to book.

• What do I do if I am ending a trip at a hub but the app is saying I am not at a hub?

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  The app uses your phone's GPS location when ending a trip. Make sure that the app has access to your location and Bluetooth. If you are standing at the hub with the bike and the app is indicating that you are out of hub, tap on “Retry end trip” so that the app can recapture your location. This should fix the issue. If it does not after three attempts, notify customer support by going back to the map view in the app and tapping on the “?” icon in the lower right corner. You do not need to stay with the bike. We will be able to end the trip for you and adjust the trip cost to match the lock times.

• What do I do if I cannot lock the bike?

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  If you are trying to end your trip but cannot close the wheel lock, first make sure that the spokes are not blocking the lock ring. If the lock ring is reaching the other end of the lock, but not clicking in place, tap on the “Recalibrate” button. Wait for ten seconds and then try locking the bike again. If this does not work after three attempts, notify customer support by going back to the map view in the app and tapping on the “?” icon in the lower right corner. Our fleet team will be dispatched to secure the vehicle. You do not need to stay with the bike. We will be able to end the trip for you and adjust the trip cost.

• What do I do if I cannot upload the end of trip photo?

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  Please make sure that the app has access to your phone's camera. If you are unable to upload a photo after three attempts, notify customer support by going back to the map view in the app and tapping on the “?” icon in the lower right corner. We will be able to end the trip for you. We recommend taking a photo of the bike as you parked it in case, we have any additional questions.