NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 30, 2025) – The snow has melted and it’s Carnival time, so let’s ride! Blue Bikes, New Orleans’ community-run bikeshare program, is kicking off its annual #SearchingforBabyBlue social media contest. Through Mardi Gras Day, if you ride a Blue Bike and find a king cake baby, you can share pictures on social media and enter to win a year of free rides.
Several of the pedal-assist e-bikes available in 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. (See attached photo).
In December, Blue Bikes added more than 100 electric bikes to the existing fleet, putting additional bikes on the streets ahead of Carnival season. Last year, the City of New Orleans provided Blue Krewe, the nonprofit operator of Blue Bikes, with federal grant funding to grow the program’s service area. These additional bikes are the first phase of that growth.
“Blue Bikes are a healthy, affordable way to get around New Orleans during big events without the hassles of fighting traffic and finding parking,” said Tessa Jagger, Blue Krewe Executive Director. “We are proud to work with the city in making more bikes available to more riders, especially as New Orleans gets ready to host the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and festival season.”
Enter the #SearchingForBabyBlue Contest
If you ride a Blue Bike and find a king cake baby between now and Mardi Gras day, March 4, you can enter the contest by doing these three things:
1. Follow Blue Bikes @BlueBikesNOLA on social media.
2. Post photos on your social media or in your Instagram stories, tagging Blue Bikes.
3. Use the hashtag #SearchingForBabyBlue in your post.
Riders who do these three things will be entered to win a one-year Blue Bikes membership ($300 value). There is no limit on entries–you can post as often as you ride a Blue Bike with a king cake baby.
After the contest ends on March 4, Blue Krewe will select a grand prize winner through a random drawing of all eligible social media posts.
How to Ride Blue Bikes
You must be 18 or older to ride Blue Bikes. Download the Blue Bikes Nola app, available in the App Store and Google Play. Riders can choose from different ridership plans and payment options:
● The Pay as you go option costs 35 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 is a 30-day pass that 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 30-day ridership pass for $4 per month. The plan includes the same 60 minutes of free ride time per day as the monthly membership.
To learn more about Blue Bikes pricing, locations 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 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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