NEW ORLEANS – The Greater New Orleans Foundation (Foundation) unveiled a new sponsored Blue Bikes station outside of the organization’s headquarters on Howard Ave in the Central Business District.
The Foundation has played an impactful role in the relaunch of the city’s bikeshare program. Following the shutdown of the original Blue Bikes system in spring 2020, community members came together to form a new local non-profit called Blue Krewe to manage the bikeshare program. The Foundation provided critical startup funding and fiscal sponsorship for the nascent non-profit.
“We believe that everyone in our region should have access to reliable and affordable transportation, and bike share in New Orleans represents another important way to reach that goal,” said Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and Treasurer of the Blue Krewe board. “From creating the new nonprofit structure and providing critical seed capital for Blue Krewe, which manages our city's bike share program, to now sponsoring a physical station at our Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy, we are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with Blue Krewe.”
Thanks to the support of the Greater New Orleans Foundations, Blue Krewe was able to roll out a new fleet of 504 pedal assist e-bikes in August of 2021.
“We are grateful to the Greater New Orleans Foundation for their help and support to relaunch Blue Bikes and give residents, visitors and tourists a healthy, green way to get around the city,” said Michael Tipton, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation President and head of Community Relations. “With their sponsored hub, we’re giving riders more options and making bikes more accessible in an active part of New Orleans.”
Since the initial relaunch of the bikeshare system, Blue Bikes has seen strong growth with riders pedaling over 180,000 miles -- that’s like cruising around the Superdome over 450,000 times!
“The new nonprofit iteration of Blue Bikes exists because community members and local organizations worked together to ensure that our community and our guests have access to a healthy, equitable, environmentally-friendly, and affordable way to get around town,” said Geoff Coats, CEO of Blue Krewe. “The Greater New Orleans Foundation was the first institution to understand the vision of Blue Krewe and to step forward with support. Today’s unveiling is a testament to GNOF’s’ continued commitment to the success and sustainability of equitable transportation for all New Orleanians.”
For more information 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 were recognized in 2019 and 2020 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 nearly 100 years, the Greater New Orleans Foundation serves the 13 parish region of Southeast Louisiana including Assumption, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Tangipahoa, and Washington. Over 900 nonprofits from the region participate in its annual online giving day, GiveNOLA Day, which has raised over $40 million for nonprofits in the last eight years. The Greater New Orleans Foundation has responded to every disaster since Hurricane Katrina, when it led the Unified Community Planning Effort and a $23 million affordable housing fund. The Foundation distributed nearly $7 million in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has distributed over $4 million in response to Hurricane Ida.
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