NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 5, 2024) – Carnival season is officially here! And with Blue Bikes, finding the king cake baby doesn’t just mean you need to buy the next one. You could earn up to 12 months of free rides with New Orleans’ community-run bikeshare program.
About one-fifth of Blue Bikes’ pedal-assist e-bikes, which are placed in communities around New Orleans, have a king cake baby within their designs. Check the whole bike before you pedal to the parades – babies are featured in different places, and some are harder to spot than others.
If you ride a bike and find a baby anytime through Mardi Gras Day, post photos on social media or in your Instagram stories tagging Blue Bikes @BlueBikesNOLA. Riders who do will be entered to win a one-year Blue Bikes membership ($300 value).
There is no entry limit – you can post as often as you ride a Blue Bike with a king cake baby. After the contest ends on Feb. 13, Blue Krewe will select a grand prize winner through a random drawing of all social media posts.
“With locals taking over 70% of all Blue Bikes trips last year, folks who live in New Orleans know that biking is one of the best ways to enjoy Mardi Gras,” said Patrick Urbine, the Community Engagement Manager for Blue Krewe. “Riding to work, Carnival parades, and family gatherings has never been easier with Blue Bikes fleet of 800 pedal-assist e-bikes and we're excited to add a dash of treasure hunt excitement to your two-wheeled adventures this Carnival season with the relaunch of the #SearchingForBabyBlue contest. So hop on a Blue Bike, explore the city, and keep your eyes peeled for Baby Blue – you might just pedal away with a free Blue Bikes annual membership!”
“With Blue Bikes, New Orleanians and visitors have a fast, easy way to enjoy Mardi Gras without the hassles of fighting traffic or finding parking. Keeping an eye out for the king cake baby makes it even more fun and festive,” said Michael Tipton, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana head of Community Relations and Foundation president. “Riders pedaled past 300,000 trips by Blue Bikes last year, and during Carnival season, we hope more people will get to experience the convenience of local bikeshare.”
How to Ride
To ride Blue Bikes, download the Blue Bikes Nola app, which is available in the App Store and Google Play. Riders can choose from different ridership plans and payment options to use Blue Bikes:
● The Pay As You Go option costs 15 cents per minute and includes a $1 unlocking fee. There is no ongoing commitment required for this option. You will be charged only for the time you use (per minute).
● The Monthly Membership option costs $25 and lets you unlock a Blue Bike without a fee any time you ride. Monthly memberships include up to an hour of free ride time per day, which you can use in multiple trips.
● Through the Blue Bikes For All program, New Orleans residents who qualify for Medicaid or Louisiana Purchase (S/NAP) can get a reduced ridership plan of $4 per month.
To learn more about the Blue Bikes pricing and rider options, visit BlueBikesNola.com. Follow Blue Bikes on social media @BlueBikesNOLA for updates and information. Use the hashtag #SearchingForBabyBlue to see pictures from riders who’ve found the baby.
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.
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