NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 8, 2021) – Starting today through Dec. 31, New Orleanians have an opportunity to pedal past the pandemic: Blue Bikes riders can use promotional codes for a free, 30-minute trip to and from their COVID-19 vaccine or booster appointments.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is sponsoring the promotion in partnership with Blue Krewe, the local, community-based nonprofit that operates and manages the bikeshare program.
“We know that transportation challenges can prevent people from getting to their COVID-19 vaccine appointments, and we’re proud to make Blue Bikes available as a no-cost option for them,” said Michael Tipton, head of Community Relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and President of the Blue Cross Foundation. “As we head into the winter months, which are the peak season for respiratory illnesses to spread, we are doing all we can to help as many Louisianians as possible get the jab and have protection from COVID-19.”
“Now that our local team has brought Blue Bikes back to New Orleans, we’re excited to work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana in offering this option for New Orleanians to get their COVID-19 vaccines or boosters,” said Geoff Coats, the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Krewe. “The more people who get the jab, the sooner we can get back to using Blue Bikes for the other things we love – pedaling to parades, going to festivals or just having fun with our family, friends and neighbors. Take a ride and help build up more immunity in our community.”
To Use Your Free Ride for a COVID-19 Vaccine or Booster Appointment:
1. Download the Blue Bikes NOLA app, which is available in the App Store and Google Play.
2. To redeem your promo code and start your free ride, open your Blue Bikes NOLA app and tap on your name in the upper-left corner. This will pull up a sidebar of account options.Tap on "promo codes," which will take you to the code redemption screen.
3. Enter the promo code
SleevesUpNola1 in the field provided and tap "submit." This will give you 30 free minutes to ride to your COVID-19 vaccine or booster appointment.
4. After the appointment, follow steps 2 and 3 again, and enter the code
SleevesUpNola2 to redeem a 30-minute free ride to return.
Each individual rider can only use each code one time through Dec. 31. The Blue Bikes free ride codes are only valid for trips to and from COVID-19 vaccine or booster sites that are located within the
bikeshare program’s service area.
Show us how you used the code by posting photos of your ride to vaccine appointments on your personal social media, tagging Blue Bikes (@BlueBikesNOLA) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (@BCBSLA), using the hashtag #RidingTowardImmunity.
Riders will be charged the standard Blue Bikes rate of 15 cents per minute plus a $1 unlocking fee for any time they ride outside of the free 30 minutes. All other standard Blue Bikes fees such as out-of-hub convenience charge and out-of-service-area fee apply.
About the COVID-19 Vaccine or Booster
Although the
COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone ages 5 and older in Louisiana, you must be 18 or older to ride Blue Bikes and redeem the free ride codes. There are three types of COVID-19 vaccines available: the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
You can call the State of Louisiana’s Vaccine Hotline at 1-855-453-0774 for help scheduling your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. The hotline staff can help you find vaccine locations near you or connect you with clinicians who can answer your vaccine questions. Or, visit the
Louisiana Department of Health’s website to see a list of vaccine locations.
Federal and state health officials have now made
booster recommendations for all three vaccine types. The recommendation for whether or not you should get a booster depends on which type of COVID-19 vaccine you got for your original shot – the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For those who got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, a second booster dose is recommended for anyone 18 and older who got the first vaccine two months or longer ago. For those 18 and older who got the second dose of their Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines six months or longer ago, boosters are recommended if you have certain health conditions or risk factors.
Visit the Louisiana Department of Health’s website,
www.ldh.la.gov, to see the latest updates and information about the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, including booster recommendations, and who is eligible.
Your COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot is covered at $0 out of pocket on your health plan, Medicare or Medicaid plan. Uninsured patients also can get a COVID-19 booster vaccine at no cost. This no-cost coverage is required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. If you have questions about vaccine coverage, contact Customer Service for your health plan.
For more information and timely updates on Blue Bikes, visit
BlueBikesNOLA.com or follow Blue Bikes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @BlueBikesNOLA.
About Blue Krewe
Founded in New Orleans in 2020, Blue Krewe is a local, community-based non-profit that manages and operates the Blue Bikes program. Recognizing the importance of Blue Bikes as a healthy, equitable, and environmentally-friendly transportation option, local bikeshare enthusiasts - such former Blue Bikes staff, biking and pedestrian advocates, philanthropists and community healthcare advocates - came together to form Blue Krewe. Here at Blue Krewe, we are committed to our mission to provide the Greater New Orleans region with equitable shared micro-mobility solutions that are rooted in and supportive of our community.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation provided critical start-up funding and fiscal sponsorship for Blue Krewe. Blue Krewe's partners include Bike Easy, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans. To donate, volunteer or learn more visit www.BlueKrewe.org.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. Founded in New Orleans in 1934, we are a tax-paying nonprofit health insurer with offices in every major region to serve our customers. We have been recognized for the past three years as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. We invite all Louisianians to visit our website at www.bcbsla.com or talk to us on social media.
About the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF)
With roots extending over 90 years, the Greater New Orleans Foundation has been connecting generous people to the causes that spark their passion. As one of the most trusted philanthropic organizations in the region, we work every day to drive positive impact through philanthropy, leadership, and action in our thirteen-parish region. In addition to grantmaking, we convene people, resources, and ideas to create intelligent strategies and solutions to meet our region’s greatest challenges. We are proud to serve as a vocal civic leader with our partners to ensure a vibrant, sustainable, and just region for all. Learn more at www.gnof.org.
We're sorry, something went wrong! Please refresh your browser and try again.