A Healthier way to get around this Mardi Gras season!
A Healthier way to get around this Mardi Gras season!
As the days of Carnival are coming to a close, with the epic Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, just days away, Bon Temps Travel wants to remind you there is another way to get around our beloved Crescent City......
I was planning on doing something different this morning but had no idea what! That is when I went to the internet and was looking for options. I came across a news clip from Mayor Landrieu regarding bicycling and I instantly got tired! LOL! So my mind got to thinking and then I started to feel bad because I know I need to improve my physical health and so figured "The mayor is doing it, local churches are doing it, so you should do it too!"
It is my hope that the City of New Orleans is aware of my sacrifice in doing my part for #NOLA300 as I am now out of breath and very much aware I need to shapen up! CONTINUING ON!
From the local residents of mid-city and beyond just wanting to move about town a little bit free-er while doing errands to the business traveler, to those " economic partners" that are coming into New Orleans and spending their hard-earned dollars on one of our world's famous New Orleans LA Vacation Packages , or visiting NOLA for some other reason, this is a very wise option to get around. Placed in tandem with a New Orleans LA Cruise Tour Vacation Package, BLUE BIKES NOLA is a perfect addition to help you get a little sightseeing in before your voyage or exciting New Orleans Louisiana vacation destination......
It's no big secret there's a lot to see and do in The Big Easy, and throughout history, people have largely relied on automobiles to transport them through the "Jewel of the Mississippi"..... So grab your backpack, strap on your tennis shoes, and go hit the parades from a different perspective. You'll be glad you did.
Through a partnership with the city, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has installed over 40 bike stations throughout the city, that corresponds to a service area and for just $8 an hour or $15 a month, you can be out and about cycling through the hallowed streets of New Orleans for a self-guided tour of adventure for 1 1-hour.
Upon first glance, it looks pretty simplistic. The bike is GPS enabled, so it will let you know when you can't go any further. The time is billed out at $8 per hour or the month ( entitled to one hour of riding each day, prorated thereafter by the minute until one hour is reached and then it is the normal $8) for $15 and as well, is prorated by the minute.
When you look at the map further, you will see that this is just not a fly-by-night proposal and that this is expected to endure longevity when looking at the bottom map. The wide footprint that this brand new service has in New Orleans is mighty impressive! Never mind the fact that this particular station is named after my all-time favorite figure from not only 1800's era Black History, but also Women's History, the legendary Sojourner Truth!
There are two convenient ways to get on your way. You can download the Social Bikes app and select the Blue Bikes Nola Network from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store .......
No smartphone and kind of like a friend of mine and rather "old school"?, go to BLUE BIKES NOLA to register online, establish your account, and manage your payment preferences........ITS JUST THAT EASY!!
The beauty of it is that it comes with its own lock, you have none of the maintenance, and when you are done with your short trip or sightseeing adventure throughout the city, just return the bike to any bike station, and Voila! , you just participated in furthering of your health, helping the environment, and you got to see a lot more of the city then you would, trapped inside an automobile. SCORE ALL THE WAY AROUND!
Before head-out, surf over to WDSU Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr's Facebook feed for the latest forecast........ #MargaretOrr In New Orleans, it is always a wise idea to have an umbrella within arm's reach at all times!! JUST SAYIN'! ******Despite what others might say, I highly recommend avoiding the plastic rain ponchos as they're not flattering, will add 10 lbs to your wardrobe in water weight, and will leave you feeling like the inside of a microwave after a 45-minute defrost session for a London Broil!******
But don't worry, if you happen to return the bike to a different bike station, it's only a nominal $2 fee. Be advised though, if they have to retrieve the bike from outside the service area, they will charge you a $25 administrative fee.
Don't believe me? Try it! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!
If you're not completely satisfied, send me your receipt along with a little ditty stating the reason for your dislike and I will issue you a comparative credit on future travel....... Sorry, complaints about sweat, pain, out of breath, and the like are not acceptable because that's what this is all about.
Reaching for a different and more managed future through partnership with our community to help foster an overall healthier New Orleans will contain many lifelong benefits for generations to come.
For more information, please call us at (504) 402-5925
The time for Action is now!!!!
Bon Temps Travel of New Orleans would like to send a special thank you to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans for their hard work and partnership in service to the community and their dedication to the welfare of our people as a whole!
A Healthier way to get around this Mardi Gras season!