NEW ORLEANS ( May 1, 2023) – One of the best ways to improve your mental health is through healthy, aerobic exercise like riding a bike. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has partnered with Blue Krewe, the local nonprofit operator of Blue Bikes in New Orleans, to sponsor a free ride promotion.
“We’ve all heard that exercise is good for our bodies, but it gets really great results for our minds, too,” said Dr. Jeremy Wigginton, Blue Cross medical director. “There are lots of connections between doing physical activity and getting a mood boost. Regular exercise is also effective to manage feelings of stress and anxiety. We are offering free Blue Bikes rides this month to support Louisianians in taking time for themselves to focus on their mental health.”
Through May 31, Blue Bikes riders can use the code RideForYourMind to get one free, 30-minute Blue Bikes ride. In addition to exercise, free rides can be used for transportation to healthcare appointments, to enjoy fun activities with friends or for other mental health-boosting activities.
”With the challenges of the past few years, we’ve learned it’s important to make our mental health a priority,” said Michael Tipton, Blue Cross Foundation president and head of Community Relations. “Our mission is to improve the health and lives of Louisianians, and sponsoring this promotion with Blue Bikes does that by giving people an easy way to make time for self-care as they relax and enjoy the ride.”
"From riding with family and friends down the Greenway to pedaling to farmers markets to access healthy, local foods, Blue Krewe is committed to ensuring that Blue Bikes provides an active transportation solution for New Orleanians that benefits both the body and the mind,” said Patrick Urbine, Blue Krewe Community Engagement Manager. “This Mental Health Awareness Month, we are excited to partner with Blue Cross to encourage folks to enjoy some fresh air and take a free ride on a Blue Bike. Additionally, we’re thrilled to be able to work with a number of local community partners to highlight discounted and free wellness resources for the larger New Orleans community.”
How To Get Your Free Ride:
1. Before heading out to ride, 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 RideForYourMind in the field provided and tap "submit." This will give you a free, 30-minute ride.
Each individual rider can only use this code one time through Wednesday, May 31. The Blue Bikes free ride codes are only valid for trips within the bikeshare program’s service area.
Show us how you used the RideForYourMind code by posting photos on your personal social media, tagging Blue Bikes (@BlueBikesNOLA) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (@BCBSLA), using the hashtag #RideForYourMind.
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.
Mental Health Awareness Month Wellness Partners
Throughout the month, Blue Bikes will be highlighting wellness-related resources at local organizations committed to health and well-being on the @BlueBikesNola social media accounts.
For more information on Blue Bikes, visit BlueBikesNOLA.com.
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 for the past four 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 @BCBSLA.
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