Memphis bicycle hire comes in two distinct forms: Explore Bike Share for dock-to-dock e-bike journeys, and standard bicycles at Shelby Farms Park for a park outing. The choice affects where you collect the bike, how you return it and whether children’s equipment is available.
Bike share or park hire
| Criterion | Explore Bike Share | Shelby Farms Park hire |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Station-to-station journeys | Park outing |
| Bicycle | Pedal-assist e-bike | Standard bicycle |
| Children’s equipment | — | Child bikes and trailersBest |
Walking is sufficient between compact downtown sights. Riding helps with longer local journeys or an outing. In hot weather, leave time for breaks, and choose a journey with a suitable return point before hiring. If you have luggage or your journey does not suit cycling, Memphis buses and public transport offer another option.
Sprock n’ Roll runs guided group party-bike outings, including individual seats on shared tours, rather than individual self-guided bicycle hire.
Explore Bike Share: access and returns
A pass purchase does not reserve a bicycle. Use BCycle to find an available bike and a return station before setting off. Your ride begins when the bike releases, so have your belongings ready before unlocking it.
- Download BCycle, choose and buy a pass, then go to an available dock. Tap its button to wake it and release the bike through the app.
- Dock the bike at your final station. Listen for three beeps, look for the green dock light and confirm it is securely locked.
- If the station is full, follow BCycle’s instructions for 15 extra minutes to reach another station with an open dock.
- Treat a bike shown as available as a reservation.
- Leave the bike beside a station or walk away without confirming a locked return.
Single rides and three-day passes
| Product | Fare | Validity | Included riding | Unlock fee | Excess time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-Bike Pass | $5 | One ride | 20 minutes | $1 | $0.30 per additional minute |
| Three Day Pass | $35 | Three consecutive days (72 hours) | Unlimited rides up to 60 minutes each | — | $0.30 per minute after 60 minutes |
The individual product costs $6 with its unlock fee before any excess time. Six separate rides within its allowance would cost $36, so the Three Day Pass becomes cheaper at six such rides within its validity. It also gives you a longer allowance on each ride, but exceeding that allowance still adds charges.
For a single short outing, the individual product keeps the initial cost lower. For repeated journeys, count the rides you expect to make rather than treating the longer pass as unlimited continuous riding.
New passes carry a $15 pre-authorisation hold that is automatically refunded. Allow for that temporary hold on your payment card as well as the fare.
Shelby Farms bike hire
For a park outing on a standard bicycle, collect your bike at the Hyde Lake Wheel House, at the First Horizon Foundation Visitor Center in Shelby Farms Park. Bring a valid driving licence or government-issued ID. The visitor centre also has an Explore Bike Share pickup and return station, separate from the standard-bike hire.
- Name
- First Horizon Foundation Visitor Center at Shelby Farms Park
- Location
- 6903 Great View Dr N, Memphis, TN 38120 Maps
- Site
- shelbyfarmspark.org
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8am–5:30pm
- Sat 8am–5pm
- Sun 8am–5:30pm
- Children’s bicycles accommodate riders with an inseam of 20 inches or less.
- Add-on trailers carry one or two small children, with a total capacity of 100 lb.
Budget roughly $15–$35 for short-duration standard-bike hire, with duration and extra equipment affecting the total. Choose the child’s equipment before collecting your own bicycle so the group can ride together.
The Shelby Farms Greenline offers another cycling setting. Its Highland Street crossing is part of the urban trail, distinct from the paths around Hyde Lake.
Thomas R Machnitzki · CC BY 3.0 · Edited
Big River Crossing and Hyde Lake
| Riding place | Setting | Surface |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Crossing | Harahan Bridge, Mississippi River | Pedestrian and cycling deck |
| Hyde Lake | Shelby Farms Park | Paved cycling paths |
Big River Crossing puts you on the Harahan Bridge’s pedestrian and cycling deck, with the Mississippi River below. It is a shared crossing, so leave space for people on foot rather than treating the deck as a bicycle-only route.
Dclemens1971 · CC BY 4.0 · Edited
From the Shelby Farms visitor centre, paved paths open to bicycles lead towards South Hyde Lake. The Hyde Lake Promenade has a separate 2.45-mile cycling loop, and Explore Bike Share’s pedal-assist bicycles are permitted. Pedestrians have right of way, so slow down where people cross or share your path.
At Hyde Lake, you can pause beside the water before continuing around the park. Keep the return dock or hire collection point in mind when deciding where to turn back.
Cycling rules and e-scooters
Bicycles may use Memphis pavements unless signs prohibit riding. Yield to other pavement users and give a verbal or bell signal before passing. On the downtown pedestrian mall, manually propelled bicycles are allowed without a permit. Yield to pedestrians and trolleys, signal before passing pedestrians and keep parked bikes clear of their routes.
Children under 16 must wear a properly fitted, securely fastened helmet, including passengers in bicycle trailers. Use an approved helmet meeting ANSI or Snell standards. Helmets are recommended at any age, even though the legal requirement does not extend to older riders.
Bird and GCOO operate shared e-scooters. Their riding-space rules differ from those for bicycles: hired e-scooters must not be ridden on pavements. Ride on streets, using cycle lanes and paths where available. Keep right in street lanes, yield to bicycles in cycle lanes and paths, and yield to pedestrians at crossings.
Carry water in hot weather and take shaded breaks. Stop riding during thunderstorms and shelter indoors. After dark, use lights and reflective clothing so other road users can see you.
Sources & fact-checking
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