Nice Ride Minnesota adding 20 stations for 2015

Nice Ride Minnesota will have its fleet on the streets by about April 1, and this year users of the popular bike-sharing program will have 20 new stations where they can check out the shiny green bikes.

Once the new stations and 200 new bikes are deployed midseason, Nice Ride will have 190 stations throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, said spokesman Anthony Ongaro.

The early arrival of bike riding weather is allowing Nice Ride to crank up a couple of weeks earlier than last year, when cold and snowy weather delayed the season's start.

"If all goes well, we should be up and running by April 1st," Ongaro said.

The 2015 pass and membership costs will be the same as last year: $6 for a 24-hour pass, $15 for a 30-day pass and $65 for a season pass. They are available at any Nice Ride Station.

Members can take unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes without paying an extra fee. Pass holders can ride for 30 minutes without paying an extra fee. This year riders will be charged a flat $3 for each 30-minute period beyond the time included with their membership or pass. More information about pricing can be found at www.niceridemn.org/pricing.

Last year Nice Ride users took 405,000 rides.

Tim Harlow